Carolyn Dawn Johnson - Room With A View (2001)

Most newcomers are happy just to be singing on their first albums, but Carolyn Dawn Johnson does more than sing -- she co-produced and wrote or co-wrote all 11 of the album's potent songs. Lyrics like "I always wanted to get married, and I thought you were the one, but you never, ever asked me and I was tired of hangin' on" (in the loneliness of "Georgia") or "I could keep pointin' fingers, I could stay mad as hell, just let my anger linger, but as far as I can tell, I've just got to let it go" (in the emotional struggle of "I'll Think of You That Way") are convincingly telling as to why she's found applaudable success writing songs for the likes of Jo Dee Messina ("Downtime") and Chely Wright ("Single White Female"). Room With a View is a praiseworthy first effort that takes a hard-hitting, realistic look at all stages of a love relationship, and Johnson brings it to life with her dead-on vocals and pursuit of emotional triumph.