Over time, Hannah McNeil will no doubt read many a review and article about herself that references Hannah Montana. How can it be avoided? Like uber-popular Miley Cyrus, who plays the household-name character on TV and in movies, McNeil is a young, country-pop singer-songwriter with terrific original songs, and the delivery to make them unforgettable. With a style of writing and performing that blends the grass-roots charm of Patty Loveless with the contemporary grit of Gretchen Wilson, McNeil’s self-titled debut CD is a knockout of one hook-filled tune after another. “What Am I Getting Up For” opens the album with an impassioned, up-tempo blast of identity crisis featuring a chorus tailor-made for radio. “Peace of Mind” is a fun, hip hop-influenced romp that’s refreshingly literate and polished. “Celebrate Life,” though, is the real standout here; like Lee Ann Womack’s mega-hit, “I Hope you Dance,” “Celebrate Life” combines the rarest of sing-along-worthy melodies with a message of self-empowerment and joy-of-life passion that crosses genres and generations. As surely as Hannah McNeil will have to live with references to that other Hannah for awhile, it’s a safe bet that if she keeps making albums like “Hannah McNeil,” soon enough McNeil will be the new standard for country singers named Hannah.
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