Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

What a voice! Marie Danielle has a voice that is both beautiful and memorable. It certainly makes her music easy to listen to. And listen over and over again. There is a tinge of sadness in the music but the beauty of her voice transcends the mood of the music. In other words, you will be compelled to listen due to the spell her vocals cast over you. There may be a good reason for the sadness in the songs. Danielle has had a rough go of it in the past few years. The Harrisburg, PA native had a near death experience due to being the victim of domestic violence. That incident was the turning point in Danielle’s life for a number of reasons, mainly, it provided her the courage to reach out to Simone Felice and play her songs to a wide audience. 

Her songs are about very heavy subjects such as love gone wrong and addiction. Not necessarily the happiest of topics but Danielle sings in such a powerful way that it makes you return to the songs again and again. One Of My Kind (Track 7) is a song with hit potential. It is an autobiographical song about moving around and longing for a stable home and a less unsettled life. Also, sacrificing her lifestyle for the love of that special someone. This song is bittersweet, but completely infectious. It ends so beautifully with Danielle singing out with the title line. Tinseltown (Track 1) is a gorgeous song about a lost love. It will make you cry but the sheer beauty will leave you longing for more. This is another song that has all the makings of a classic. Hustler (Track 3) is the title track about a con man who Marie Danielle fell for. Another song that is melancholy, but impossible to turn away. 

This album was released in the Spring of 2016. Why we aren’t hearing more about it and more from it is beyond me. Let’s right the ship by giving Marie Danielle the praise and accolades she deserves for this amazing release. 

Listen to Hustler on Soundcloud

Buy Hustler on Marie Danielle’s website