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Lisa Matassa - Somebody's Baby

by Kevin Wierzbicki

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Relatively few of the singers and musicians that dream of being stars actually hit the big time and almost none taste stardom twice. But Lisa Matassa has scored an impressive career two-fer, firstly back in the late '80s when, recording under the stage name Lisa Lynn, she had Top 10 freestyle dance music hits with "I've Got the Hots For You" and "Rock Me Baby," both recorded for the Emergency label who also sent her out on the road with like-minded acts Taylor Dayne and Brenda K. Starr.

After the dance music scene got blown off the radio by grunge, Matassa retreated from the business to raise a family. Now, with her children in their teen years, Matassa has turned her attention back to her career and to the country music she's always loved (her early stage name Lynn was an homage to Loretta Lynn, whom she idolizes) and has immediately gotten back in the groove with the EP Somebody's Baby.

The effort's centerpiece is the title song; with a hooky chorus meant to be sung along to, a wash of fiddles and just enough electric guitar to rock it up a little, "Somebody's Baby" is a perfect slice of modern country for the CMT set (the channel is playing the song's video which also has over 4-million views on YouTube alone.) Matassa has a voice that could be mistaken for Sara Evans or Martina McBride, especially evident on the reflective "Learning as You Grow," but the raucous "Wouldn't You Like to Know" moves closer to Gretchen Wilson territory. And on "Girl With a Rock'n'Roll Heart" Matassa flat out rocks; the song mashes up modern country with a rollicking Mott the Hoople-style piano riff and hints of Pat Benatar toughness. Somebody's Baby also features a few cover tunes including a take on Bryan Adams' "Heaven" and a passionate live reading of Dolly Parton's torch song "I Will Always Love You."

Matassa isn't letting any moss grow under her heels; word has just come from her camp that she's releasing a new single that is not on Somebody's Baby, an I'm-not-so-sure-about-you message to a lover that's afraid of commitment and possibly already on the prowl for a new companion called "I Won't Ask." Even though the song is about a relationship that's falling apart an upbeat tempo, sweet and sinuous guitar parts and Matassa's hopeful vocals make the song likely to be Lisa's next biggie at radio.

Purchase Somebody's Baby at iTunes here

Watch the "Somebody's Baby" video here.

Visit her official site here.


Lisa Matassa - Somebody's Baby

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