Liz Clark

The miles between Denver, where Liz Clark first made her name as a performer, and New York, her home for the past couple of years, roughly correspond to the improvement in her work. As witnessed by the quality of Hand on the Stove, she's come a long way, and her...

By Michael Roberts

November 10, 2005

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The miles between Denver, where Liz Clark first made her name as a performer, and New York, her home for the past couple of years, roughly correspond to the improvement in her work. As witnessed by the quality of Hand on the Stove, she's come a long way, and her progress shows no signs of stopping.

The material here is solidly within the singer-songwriter tradition, but Clark and producers Brian Bason and Justin Tapp freshen the familiar style via arrangements that juxtapose old-school instrumentation with more modern touches, like the ka-chunking rhythms heard in the first half of "Encore." Moreover, Clark's surprisingly brawny guitar playing is matched by a strong, straightforward voice that's equally compelling on the not-so-soft "Soft Side" and the plaintive "Race Street."

Stove, available at Twist & Shout and www.lizclarkmusic.com, should cause Clark's career to heat up nicely. Feel the burn.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

Contact: Michael Roberts

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