With Dirty Mind, singer-songwriter Sara Melson proves to be a force to be reckoned with. Since her 2003 self-release, which was adequately titled Five Song EP, Melson has been catching the attention of radio stations, music lovers, and even television networks. From her early stages with her EP, she was already being played on stations like Indie 103.1 and KRCW and her songs were featured in the ABC television show Men In Trees. As for Dirty Mind, Melson’s first full-length album, Grey’s Anatomy fans (and I know a whole lot of you are out there) might recognize the first track off this album called Feel It Coming which was aired in an episode from the latest season. Now with songs being featured in the new NBC series called Quarterlife, it seems as though Melson is destined for soundtrack superstardom. And these days that’s not a bad gig at all. Just ask Snow Patrol and The Fray who were thrown into the mainstream after be featured on, none other than: Grey’s Anatomy.

Melson deserves every bit of attention that she’s been getting. Dirty Mind showcases an honest, unapologetic, and feminine voice that’s so refreshing to listen to. Melson belts out Feel It Coming, a song about hope and new beginnings,as though every ounce of emotion is being pulled out of her body and straight into the song. A highlight of this album, though, would have to be the vulnerable, acoustic love song, Never Been Hurt where Melson tells us “I’ve finally left my carry-on bag behind me / I’m going to love you like I’ve never been hurt before.”

In a way, this is kind of a chick album. It wouldn’t be far-fetched to relate Melson to artists like Aimee Mann, Anna Nalick and Jewel (in her singer-songwriter years, before the 0304 album, of course.) But what I think Melson does is talk about love in a way that a lot of people wouldn’t and that’s what makes it so easy to connect to her songs. Another stand-out lyric is from the song Fall Down, which is a song that’s a little bit more upbeat and witty than the rest, where she says: “Oh baby, I’ve got two lovers / One’s my freedom, the other is a man.”

With all of the play Melson’s been getting lately people better watch out because there might be a new culture-defining television show theme song to put right up there with Paula Cole’s I Don’t Want To Wait, The Remembrants I’ll Be There For You and Phantom Planet’s California and it might just some courtesy of Sara Melson.
TRACK LISTING

Feel It Coming

Anywhere Anytime

Never Been Hurt

Hard Pressed

Dirty Mind

Turquoise Sky

Rise Up

Fall Down

Don’t You Wanna Know

Happy Endings

Nuclear Sun

Birthday Prayer

Turquoise Sky (Acoustic)