2 out of 5

Label: Digital release?  Bandcamp, baby.

Producer: Michael Garcia

Meh.  I’m glad this is an earlier recording than Fireworks Child, the other Frye album I’ve reviewed, as there’s definitely growth between the works – evidence of a willingness to step one or two inches outside of the chick singer/songwriter realm.  Although, oddly, The Delve is a bit better lyrically because it doesn’t seem to get as openly cheesy, this could also be a defense mechanism of a more youthful writer afraid of being honest with her words, and instead hiding them in metaphor.  Regardless, the music is as standard chicky as it gets – some strings, some folk, some Tori, some Lillith Fair… etc.  It’s not sloppy, and doesn’t sound just like mimicry – I mean, at the point of Delve, Frye couldn’t be picked out of a lineup of strummy female vocalists, but I buy that she wrote this songs and closed her eyes when singing them.  If you were TOTALLY into Fireworks Child (which I was iffy on, if you’ll recall… as I’m sure you do, you little devil), you’ll probably like this too.  But maybe you’re 16 and I’m super judgmental?