Victoria Day

2009 release. Melissa McClelland's vocal virtuosity, crystalline and luminescent, transports lyrics of a much darker design. Sometimes bawdy, often bloodied, and always intriguing, Melissa sings of bruised hearts and broken bones, trigger-happy renegades and contrived innocence. In spite of all the impurities of human nature explored throughout Victoria Day, her first release on Six Shooter Records, Melissa remains an unblemished figure with a vocal dexterity matched by a superb backing band. Victoria Day is a modern mix of retro guitar tones courtesy of both Melissa and producer Luke Doucet, who brings a reverence for a true vintage feel to string arrangements, piano, upright bass and punchy drums. The album blends a deliciously dirty sound with the sparkling voice that has captured the hearts of heavy-hitters Blue Rodeo, Sarah McLachlan and Jesse Cook. Warner.