Dana Glover: Testimony : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

The simple fact that Dana Glover wrote Testimony's opening track "Rain" in one sitting speaks to what lies ahead for the fiery-haired singer-songwriter. The song sounds like a recording discovered in Dusty Springfield's closet lying under a stockpile of empty mascara tubes and Aquanet cans. Glover's velvety voice locks you tightly inside the gale winds of her passionate crescendos and sultry swagger. She matches the soul of Alicia Keys on the you'll-be-sorry-you-dumped-me-track "Almost Had It All," and Norah Jones had better scoot over on the piano bench to make room for Glover, who gracefully slows the pace without slowing the burn on the intimate "Maybe." Glover's southern roots show through on the upbeat, country-influenced "Make It Real," while on the gospel-infused "The Way (Radio Song)," Glover pays tribute to those who inspired her: "If I could just live in that wonderland/Stevie touches my heart with his hands/And Aretha sings about a doomed romance all night long just for me." Testimony proves there's a storm brewing in Glover's heart strong enough to match the one in her grey-green eyes.

KERRY SMITH
(October 15, 2002)