Three years after Andrea became the first Corrs member to launch a solo career, violinist Sharon makes the surprising move from backing singer to lead vocalist with her debut album. Unlike her sister's Nellee Hooper-produced Ten Feet High, which flirted with synth pop and electronica, Dream of You doesn't stray too far from the Corrs' template, featuring a mixture of radio-friendly choruses, Celtic strings, and Fleetwood Mac-inspired soft rock. Indeed, the haunting instrumental opening track, "Our Wedding Day," picks up where their last studio album, 2005's more traditional Home, left off, while lead single "It's Not a Dream" is a simple but gorgeous love song that could easily have been taken from the hugely successful Talk on Corners. Sharon's light, airy vocals, unsurprisingly similar to her sibling's, do little to dispel the comparisons, but there are occasions when Dream of You offers something a little more offbeat, particularly on the Santana-influenced "Mnà Na H'éireann" and the country-tinged closer, "Love Me Better." However, the album is at its strongest when it plays safe, on the likes of "Buenos Aires," a duet with Spanish Grammy-winner Alex Ubago, the piano-led "Butterflies," and the feel-good rendition of Irish folk classic "Cooley's Reel." However, two cover versions provide the standouts. The Korgis' "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" is given a polished Dido-esque production, while Bronski Beat's '80s electro-pop anthem "Smalltown Boy" is turned into a subtle and tender acoustic ballad. Dream of You isn't likely to convert the critics who place the Corrs in the same MOR bracket as Lighthouse Family and M People, but with the absence of any new group material, it will definitely appease fans waiting for another dose of traditional Irish pop/rock.
© Jon O'Brien /TiVo