Meiko

In the best way possible, Meiko is so '90s. Her eponymous debut album for MySpace Records possesses an equal amount of coffee shop soul and pop sheen. These two elements, though seemingly disparate, don't clash at all. Meiko sings soulful pop songs a la Fiona Apple and Sheryl Crow, but she's got a smoky singer-songwriter vibe that wouldn't be out of place at your local book store's open mic night. Many artists chase the pop dream while attempting to maintain indie credibility, and they utterly fail in doing so. However, Meiko's quite successful in her endeavors to bridge the gap.

For instance, take the album's slow, dreamy opener "Reasons to Love You." The song builds with plucked acoustic notes that warmly embrace Meiko's soft voice. She carries the song to gorgeous heights bound to please both Indie-rock-blog-snobs and pop music aficionados. "How Lucky We Are" blends vivid lyrics and big clean instrumentation for an infectious pop concoction. "Boys with Girlfriends" is a playful take on hanging out with a dude that's already shacked up. The track invokes Kate Nash, but Meiko maintains her own identity. "Piano Song" is another fun number that features a smooth piano line and Meiko's quick cadence. Meiko can convincingly be both light and somber. "Hiding" and "Said and Done" emanate a noirish club vibe. Meiko takes an almost jazzy persona that could make Norah Jones a little jealous. The strummed acoustic guitar chords and horn textures provide the perfect canvas for Meiko to paint her emotional portrait. In fact, both allow her voice to shine even more.

Album closer "Hawaii," has just the right mix of panache and style. She's the MySpace generation's answer to Fiona Apple. "Everything has a reason for it," she croons in "Walk By." There are a lot of reasons why Meiko is so good.

—Rick Florino
08.05.08

What are they putting into the water at the Hotel Café? Meiko is yet another hyper-talented musician to cut her teeth on the L.A. venue's stage, which previously helped launch artists like Priscilla Ahn, Cary Brothers, and Ingrid Michaelson. Although armed with the requisite trappings of a singer/songwriter -- fingerplucked guitar chords, lovelorn lyrics, and a chic café vibe -- Meiko brings something different to the coffee table, mixing wistful pop/rock tunes with toy pianos, muted trumpet solos, and the occasional programmed drumbeat. Her vocals take the spotlight on nearly every number, alternating between raspy whispers and a strong, radio-ready belt. There's a Southern accent buried somewhere in there, too -- a product of her childhood spent in rural Georgia -- but Meiko creates her own geography with songs about low-rent apartments, Hawaii, and lovers' arms. Breezy handclaps and a singalong chorus turn "Boys with Girlfriends" into the album's most commercial track, yet Meiko's real strength lies in the less conventional numbers: "Reason to Love You," which features a cooing, hiccupping chorus; "Piano Song," an indie pop exercise in cuteness; and "Hiding," where minor-key progressions and a lone keyboard riff combine to form a rainy day ballad. Perhaps impressive is "Said and Done," a nocturnal song that pairs Meiko's vocals with the orchestration of a John Alton film noir. When Meiko audibly exhales during the chorus, her breath sounds like a snare hit, and it's nuances like that -- smart, slyly inconspicuous tricks -- that elevate her beyond the realm of ordinary songwriters. ~ Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide