Newest young star anything but messy

I don’t usually find new music artists on TV and if I do, it’s not on some teeny-bopper show like One Tree Hill. But rotting my brain while watching this show led to some good when two years ago; I got chills hearing Kate Voegele sing and play “Kindly Unspoken” on the piano. The rest is history.

A talented, Ohio-born rocker, Voegele is a mix of Michelle Branch and Miley Cyrus. Like Branch, Voegele plays the guitar and writes her own songs, although her music ends up being a tad more exciting. If you cringed as soon as you read “Miley Cyrus,” don’t worry. By comparing her Cyrus, I only meant that Voegele has really, really catchy songs. Unlike Cyrus, however, Kate’s voice is far from nasal and you won’t mind having her songs stuck in your head.

I was stunned by Voegele’s first album, Don’t Look Away­ — and indeed I haven’t looked away since. Her second album, A Fine Mess, came out last May — look up both.

The album only has nine songs, yet what’s surprising is that they’re all good. Voegele spends most of it complaining about a lying, incompetent guy who she can’t get enough of. We’ve all been there, so it’s not difficult to relate. While this theme could annoy listeners, the lyrics are actually mature and she sings as if telling a story to friends.

The only thing “messy” about this album is the occasional dull or awkward verse. On “Inside Out” and “Manhattan from the Sky,” the choruses rock, but it sounds like Voegele settled for mediocre verses that don’t quite fit with the chorus. The majority of the lyrics work, though, and it’s hard not to love her bouncy music. Other than that, Voegele has a knack for catchy choruses and a powerful, sassy voice that’s hard not to love.

The album opens with “Inside Out” which although slow at first is definitely worth playing. In my opinion, however, the album should have opened with “99 Times,” which will probably be played 99 times before you put this album to rest.

The fourth song, “Angel,” is another favorite. The guitar sounds delightfully punk-ish and we hear Voegele’s independent spirit shine through as she sings “I’m not your angel, baby, never gonna be.”

“Sweet Silver Lining” is depressing, but also features a lovely melody and a hint of hope. It’s one of those sad songs you can’t help loving. Never fear, however, “Playing with My Heart” will perk you up again. The upbeat song starts off with clapping, and it’s difficult to stop dancing around the whole time.

For fans who trooped to Washington D.C. to hear the young star perform a couple weeks ago, the trip was well worth it. Voegele proved the strength of her voice by singing despite a cold — and she still sounded better live than on her albums. While she might be more under-the-radar than most popular acts these days, I’ve been waiting to get sick of A Fine Mess but haven’t. Time to get back to OTH — who knows what new star will turn up next.