Garrison Starr: Airstreams and Satellites : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

Mississippi girl Garrison Starr has the pipes to put across a radio-friendly AOR anthem and no doubt her old label, Geffen, was hoping she'd climb up on the shoulders of Melissa Etheridge and connect with the big rock candy heartland. However, while Starr is certainly capable of delivering those goods (here, "Superhero" is the obvious candidate), it isn't what she necessarily should be doing. Airstreams and Satellites, her debut for the venerable folkie label Vanguard, is a modest effort that heightens her country influences while never denying her natural love for the three-minute pop song. She can sing the big rock standards, but Starr's at her best when her power is understated. "Underneath the Wheel" and the title track, in particular, are packed with the bittersweet longings that mark the best singer-songwriters. Throughout Airstreams you hear Starr learning to harness those emotions. She's on her way.

ROB O'CONNOR
(February 24, 2004)