Have ever wondered how many sensitive singer songwriters it would take to change a light bulb? The answer, in case you are wondering, is that it doesn’t matter as there will never be a shortage of sensitive singer songwriters. Of course, being a sensitive singer songwriter isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you are actually capable of displaying sensitivity and Arienette – actually Utah songstress Katie Ainge - can do just that.
“The Hardest of Fights” is her second album and it has much to commend it. Admittedly, there is lack of variety to the arrangements and performance – probably because practically everything is played by Ms Ainge according to the sleevenotes – but that is balanced by her voice. Her voice makes her words flow so easily that she could easily have taken the, probably more commercially viable, path to Americana to fully take advantage of the simple honesty of her singing style. However, whilst there are spiritual overtones, her lyrics nonetheless have camouflage more suitable for the urban environment with “Last Call” and “Have We Been Lost” best illustrating that street lit balance.
“The Hardest of Fights” is an endearing album limited more by budget than ability and I would imagine that, perhaps some outside artistic guidance, Arienette, or rather Ms Ainge, could produce something of bleak magnificence on her next outing.