Linda Bonadies – Karma
CD Review By Brooke Mason
Songsalive! member Linda Bonadies’ latest album Karma is her second release following her 2004 debut No Regret. The upbeat title track sucks you in with a joyful message of becoming a self fulfilling prophecy by putting positive energy out into the universe. Also what stands out here, and throughout this album, is Linda’s gift of composition garnered at Bucknell University and Hartt School of Music. Linda’s musical knowledge comes through in her breakdown structures on songs like Karma and The Flow. My favorite track on this album is Stir Crazy with its highly skilled minor chord compositions that fit the lyrical theme.
Vocally I would compare Bonadies more to Carly Simon than Carole King. Linda’s vocal delivery is consistent throughout the album. Lyrically as well, I find the comparisons more akin to the emotional rawness of Carly Simon’s Itsy Bitsy Spider. Linda’s lyrics allude to a lifetime of garnered wisdom on songs like Lead With Your Heart and Take Nothing For Granted. The best representation of Linda’s writing skills on this album is The Flow. After comparing a fish swimming against a river and a bird flying against the wind as a metaphor for the struggle of humanity and acceptance of the nature of life, Bonadies assures us that, “There’s no need to fight because the flow will take you through your life…”
Runaway Train, Hold Me and The Way It Is definitely have that Been to Canaan style percussion. Male harmonizing is used to great effect on songs like Lead With Your Heart and You, a sassy little jazz number somehow reminiscent of Millie Small.
Website: http://www.lindabonadies.com/
Myspace: www.myspace.com/lindabonadies
Read the interview
Read her Member of the Month post
Read her official press release