Pollyanna

Description

Pollyanna is the sophomore album by the American singer and songwriter Wes Cunningham, released on Pentavarit in November 2001. (“Pollyanna” is known as the heroine of Eleanor H. Porter’s famous novel “Pollyanna” published in 1913, whose outlook on life was one of absolute optimism and whose problems were always straightened out in the end.) According to All Music Guide, “Fans of smart, highbrow pop will find no fault with this album…”

If a tree falls in a forest and there’s no one there to hear it, does it make a sound? If the tremendously talented Wes Cunningham releases a second CD and no one really knows about it, is there any justice whatsoever? …This is dynamic music from a gifted and thoughtful singer/songwriter, often beautiful and haunting, a natural progression from what came before, focused and personal. If you take the time to give these songs a thorough listen, you will be well rewarded. Seek out these sweet examinations of love desired, love lost, comforting reassurances and realizations that things aren’t just. Cunningham throws himself into his music on Pollyanna, and while he claims to be an ordinary guy, his talents let us know otherwise. [Pop Matters]

With a style that calls to mind Ed Harcourt and Neil Finn, Wes Cunningham has a sweet and soft melodic pop formula that works wonders on «Only You Know». Although the track opens up with a healthy dose of keyboards, the electric guitars and tight pop arrangements start with the chorus. The track also has a lot of similarities to Ben Kweller, ending with a large Beatles circa-Sgt. Pepper’s feeling. «Good Good Feeling» builds on this momentum. Harmonies are strong here also, but at times the guitars sound a bit too polished. «I Love Elanor» harks back to Crowded House with a gorgeous lullaby ballad about showing love for a girlfriend. “The world needs to know how much I love her,” Cunningham sings over an acoustic guitar. Influences such as XTC and the Gin Blossoms are littering this pop album, especially on the infectious and cavity-inducing «Shoot Straight». «Your Last Kiss» is perhaps the album’s shining moment, alternating between a piano ballad and a harder and edgier, guitar-oriented track. One of the positives regarding Cunningham is his economical approach to writing, resembling at times Ron Sexsmith in saying a lot with few words. «I Fall for Her (Over and Over)» isn’t as strong as it should be and comes across as a bit too soppy. Thankfully, «No Justice» returns to form with a rhythm section that blends keyboards with electric guitar that sounds like a softer Collective Soul. A spacy pop feeling on «Now or Never» doesn’t work as well as it should, perhaps because the track sounds a bit aimless. «Who Was I» has an ambient tone to it, but everything fits better here for some reason. It’s a song Ben Folds would have a difficult time passing up. The final «Glory» is a perfect complement to XTC’s Apple Venus, Pt. 1. Fans of smart, highbrow pop will find no fault with this album. [Jason MacNeil, AMG]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/pollyanna/295399908)

CD tracklist:

01. Only You Know
02. Good Good Feeling
03. I Love Eleanor
04. Shoot Straight
05. Your Last Kiss
06. I Fall For Her (Over And Over)
07. No Justice
08. Nevermind
09. Now Or Never
10. Who Was I
11. Glory

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