Lauren Fine
For the Breaking (2003)

Review by: Alexander Washburn
Date: 8/10/03

I have reasons A to Z to hate Austin, Texas but if the Lone Star State capital continues to churn out talented musicians like Lauren Fine, I might have to rethink my position.

For the Breaking is an expertly crafted 5-song EP that puts on display Ms. Fine’s musical creativity and passionate lyrics. Her voice glides through the opening track "Easy" and creates an intimacy that is usually only achieved by veteran artists. When Fine sings “I’m easy to touch, easy to feel, easy to cut but baby hard to heal,” you can hear the pain and anguish in her voice. Hey, Lauren, just to let you know I’ll have cheers with you anytime. "Honesty", where she laments that this virtue is “not what it use to be” is another shining example of Lauren Fine’s beautiful and powerful voice, and "If We Call This Love" swings with pleasant guitar solos by Fine filtered throughout this upbeat track and a gentle piano opening, where Ms. Fine’s vocals play off the piano. She displays more guitar work on "Curiosity", where she asks a former lover: “Sometime, I think I hear your voice. I find myself listening without a choice.” How many of us have been there? On "Precious Little Girl" Fine shows that she’s just doesn’t write great lyrics but also has impressive musical sense and vision. On this track Fine adds a little dose of harmonica from JP Allen and the track sounds like Lauren Fine backed up by Blues Traveler (back when they were good). This song also provides the proper canvas for Lauren Fine to boom out some vocals. When she sings: “You may not want to know that I was fine before you came,” you can hear the blues influences in her voice.

The greatest compliment that I can give Lauren Fine is that listening to For The Breaking does not sound like an indie record. Fine has created and produced the best indie record these ears have heard all year. She is an artist of unlimited potential. The maturity of her lyrics, her thoughtful compositions and her top-notch production value all make For the Breaking a joy to listen to. It has been in consistent rotation since I opened the package, and now fights for playtime along with the new Garage a Trios record, along with Bill Withers and Elvis Costello classics. From note one I was hooked and I can honestly say that in 5, 10 years, when the majority of indie artists have placed their guitars in storage, I will still be listening to For the Breaking. She is that great!

Lauren Fine has all the qualities that superstars are made of. She writes with a passion and sings with equal passion. Her guitar work is impressive and she wears her influences well enough not to sound like an Edie Brickell rip off. And the Maxim crowd will be happy to know that Ms. Fine is smoking hot.