This self-titled release is the debut from 21 year old Toronto, Canada based artist, Amanda Morra. Even though she’s only 21 Morra started her learning early beginning her formal training in the arts at the age of 5 years old, that included training in, jazz, tap, ballet, and hip hop.
The 13-tracks that make up her debut release are straight ahead pop dance in style and draws heavily on both Morra’s youth and sensuality. At times the songs have an innocent, first love type of vibe, while other ones are sultry and steamy enough to fog up any windows within a one block area.
I think what Morra had to say in regards to her two sides describes it very well. Morra says that, “at home, I’m just a regular girl wearing plaid flannel shirts,” she continues, “but onstage, I’ll wear high heels, wear dominatrix leather gear and put on a show.”
Morra’s voice mixes well with all of the programmed sounds and drum machine type of beats that fill up the songs found on this release. While Morra handles all of the lead vocals she’s joined on a few of the songs by male vocals that play well against hers.
Morra had a hand in the writing of several of the songs found on this release, pulling on her youthful experiences that revolved around the ups and downs found in dating type of relationships for song themes.
While this release is almost entirely filled with up tempo dance beats those looking for a slow track to stop and take a few breathes between dance moves will like track-9, “Rewind (Stringapella).” The song is a piano ballad that also includes rich string sounds on it. This song also works as a nice showcase for Morra’s vocals, without all of the effects, and sounds that are found mixed in with her vocals on the other songs.
The last track, “Better Days (Joe De Simone aka Jinx Club Mix),” wraps a giant musical dance bow on this release with its pumping bass sounds and a club-like running time of 6:41.
If you’re looking for some fun, upbeat music, that you can move the coffee table out of the center of the living room and dance around to for awhile then Amanda Morra’s music fits the bill perfectly.
http://writercwross.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/amanda-morra-amanda-morra/

