Campus Times (November 1996)

Barry exceeds expectations with 'Beginning, Middle, End'

Being involved in the music industry is not easy. There is so much competition and expectations. But Kristen Barry’s debut album, "The Beginning, the Middle, the End," exceeds those expectations.

Barry, 26, has been involved in music since she was 5 years old.

The members of her group include drummer Matt Chamberlain, guitarist Rick DeChurch and bassist Chris Ballow, on loan from the Presidents of the United States of America.

Barry's music can best be described as a mixture of Courtney Love, Alanis Morrissette and Jewel. She wrote all of her own songs.

The first time listening to Barry's album, I thought, 'Oh no, another artist whose music and songs all sound alike,' like so many other modern rock acts.

Her songs sound repetitiously similar, but they are good and grow on the listener after time.

She mixes fast and slow beats together in her songs. "Seeing Gun" begins slow and relaxing and eventually jumps off into space and goes haywire. It is very energetic.

From the sound of her lyrics, it seems that all her songs come from past experience. They are not, however, too depressing like much music nowadays.

The music is depressing, but the lyrics are cheerful and not so down.

The best song on the album, "Take it Away," is about a relationship. It is not depressing as one might assume. It is about breaking up and wanting to get back with her man, but she shows strength women of the '90s need. It does not portray the weak woman who gives into the man, but rather explains how she goes on with her life and gets over the break-up.

Barry's album is creative and recommended for the modern rock listener.

She has a lot of potential and is on her way to bigger and better things.

by Laura Czingula