Amanda Henkel EP Review

Artist – Amanda Henkel
EP Title – Amanda Henkel
Catalogue Number – 842994013471
Label – Desire Street Records
Star Rating – 4 stars

Amanda Henkel’s first love has always been music, yet her dream of being a singer was put on hold whilst she followed another career path as a model. Now Amanda, who comes from Louisiana, has returned to her first love (thankfully for music fans everywhere) and released an EP featuring five modern country tracks of an extremely superior quality. This EP gives listener’s a taste of Amanda’s style and musical talents and leaves the listener eagerly awaiting more.

Climbing Up Mt. Everest is the opening track on the EP and is a lively number with a modern country/pop sound. The chorus is catchy and Amanda’s vocals are strong and captivating. I am strongly reminded of Lorrie Morgan here. The more you hear this opening track the more it grows on you. You soon find yourself singing along with the words and tapping your foot along to the music.

A Million And One is a much slower number than the opening track. This is a powerful ballad, which allows Amanda to show off her vocal talents to the full. This is a high quality song that has all the makings of a big hit.

Break My Stride shows another side to Amanda. This is a jolly song that may be familiar to some listener’s as it has been around for many years and was a big pop hit for Matthew Wilder in the 1980’s. Amanda gives this song a strong country flavour and a new lease of life.

No Easy Way Out is another striking ballad that tugs at the heart strings. This is an absolutely brilliant song, (which I cannot enthuse over enough). It tells a tragic tale of a young pregnant woman running away with her over night bag. This song would not sound out of place on a Reba McEntire album. Amanda’s vocals really shine on this track; she adds real emotion to the already powerful lyrics. Absolutely stunning! It is worth buying the EP if only to hear this track.

Can’t Trust The Weatherman ends the five track EP with a bang. This is a rowdy number that really packs a punch. Probably not for die hard country fans but this is a lively number with catchy lyrics and rousing music. This song is reminiscent of Miranda Lambert on one of her more lively uplifting tracks. Amanda comes over as strong and confident vocally on this track.

All in all this is a great EP, which features some breath taking ballads that really knock the listener off their feet because they are so good in both lyrical content and strong vocals. This EP also features some lively songs that show Amanda can really belt out a song and hold her own in the stream of new female country artists that are coming along. This is an exciting artist that has all the makings of a big star.