Friday, May 10, 2024

Allie Hughes - Waiting For The Prize (2006)

Alexandra Ashley Hughes (better known by her stage name of Allie X) was born on 31 July 1985 in Oakville, Ontario, and after studying classical piano and voice at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, and graduating from Sheridan College's Musical Theatre Performance program, she started her musical career in Toronto around 2006. At this time she was performing indie pop, indie rock, jazz, and electronic music, and she recorded the 10-track demo album, 'Waiting For The Prize', in 2006, while still in college. The album was pressed up on CD and sold at her early shows in 2006 and 2007, and takes inspiration from both jazz music, and piano-based alternative sounds. Said to be inspired by artists such as Kate Bush, Regina Spektor, and Norah Jones, the album pairs piano-pop and jazz instrumentals with sassy, quirky lyrics. It actually gained a review by John Arkelian for artsforum.ca, who described 'Bad Luck' as "a jazzy, bluesy song that sounds like a show tune from the musical stage", 'That's Just Me' as "an ironic juxtaposition of down-to-earth lyrics and an operatic lament", and 'What Have I Done?' as "a serious reverie on life’s choices, with a hint of the bittersweet". Those early CD's are now impossible to find, so here is Allie X's very first album, while still performing under the name Allie Hughes. 



Track listing

01 That's Just Me 
02 Gorilla Sounds
03 Bad Luck
04 Irish Colcannon 
05 What Have I Done?
06 Oyster Song
07 Perfect Day 
08 Brand New 
09 Fall
10 Something Isn't Right

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