DIRTY LITTLE SECRET - KATHERINE WHALEN
Vocalist Katherine Whalen, formerly of Squirrel Nut Zippers and the Jazz Squad, returns with an album that bears no real resemblance to anything she’s previously tracked. After the Zippers’ retro-centricity and her jazz trip, “Secrets” is an idiosyncratic pop album. While tunes such as the title track, “Angel” and “Meet Me by the Fire” are catchy, they’re also more bent than run-of-the-mill pop songs, which in this case is a mixed blessing. Whalen’s vocals are agile — a fortunate aspect, considering Sale’s arrangements, which too often seem to be competing with Whalen rather than supporting her. Though Whalen’s versatility and talent carries her through, she flourishes in earthier music styles. Billboard
