Donna Frost GIRLS LIKE US ©2009 Spat Records Review by Lucky Boyd Sometimes songwriters are so busy writing a lyric that they forget to wrap it in a good tune. Not so with Donna Frost. Each lyrically sound cut is enveloped in a well-acted scene of musical imagery. A folky edge with a bluesy overtone and a country passion, this diverse disc is a musical résumé for this talented Texan. Frost approaches the disc in a straight forward manner, performing each track to the fullest. The best track is “Jacksonville” which is already garnering some regional support. The best written track is “Anywhere Tonight” which has a good formula progression, nice movement, and is lyrically poignant. But, this reviewer’s favorite is “Payin’ To Play,” a Bonnie Raitt –meets- Janis Ian blues rocker that chronicles a dark painful side of being in this business. The album is put together well and has some great pickers, but the bet is that Donna Frost is a great live act. If she can harness the energy from this album and blast it from stage, you’re going to hear big things from her for a long time. This disc spent an extra hour in my player, and that’s rare. Donna mentions in her liner notes that putting this album together was one of the great experiences of her life. It shows, but let’s remind Donna that an even better experience is releasing your fourth or fifth album while on tour somewhere in Texas, being sought out for sold out appearances night after night, all brought on by the strength of a great first album and a great single; and knowing that tonight’s show will be with the same band you’ve had for nine years, and that crowds love you, and you have sort of a manic peace. Yeah, that’s pretty good, too. Stats: 13 tracks, four written by Frost, 9 co-writes with Beth Travers; produced by Frost with Travers and Dave Signs; additional production by Ellis Clark; appearances by Jeff Allen, Gary Brotherman, John Heinrich, Fred Satterfield, Mark Harrison, along with Frost, Travers, Clark, and Signs; 4/2/4 insert with liner notes; 1 color screen disc, replicated; running time: approx 53 minutes.