By Divine Right Self-titled. Release Date : February, 2004. Label: Independent. Rating: Andy doesn't dig rating stuff. There appears to be a trend in the gals in Vancouver these days. It started years ago with scene breakers like Holly McNarland and Lily Frost, and Sarah McLachlan to a point – girls who were adorable but kinda hardassed and strong-willed at the same time. The new generation of girls in the city is carrying the torch. We already know about Michaela Galloway from Hinterland, Adrienne Pierce, Marta Jaciubek from Girl Nobody… and now we can add Marnie Mains to the list. She comes off as a bit of an Ani DiFranco, without being such a stark revolutionary. She’s more tangible, more effective for your average girl who needs a musical role model. So this disc, it’s not bad, if not groundbreaking. She has bluesy moments, squeaking vocals oozing with cute, sometimes she’s jivey and bossa nova. Track nine, “Liquid Nurse,” is ridiculous! I’m on vacation in Mexico. And sometimes she’s just slow. It’s pretty music for an independent woman. “Beautiful on the Inside” is supposed to be loud and I think supposed to come off as sounding vicious and powerful, but it’s recorded weakly and has some odd effects that dilute it too much. But that song is quickly followed by a pretty tune again. The last official track remind me of “Godless” from the Dandy Warhols. You know I always like a Dandy Warhols reference… The music – some flowy acoustics, all swirling chiffon scarves and white candles. Some pick up, like it should be a Sheryl crow song if the voice weren’t so fluttery. It all sounds very accomplished. The instruments mix well, the songs are pretty diverse. I think her slower songs are her better ones as well – powerful. There’s backing vocals (her tracking over herself) that are stunning. It’s a great voice. Some of the songs have strange intros – backwards songs or random noises. Possibly superfluous because it’s on so many of the songs, but not in such a way as to make it a solid theme. And three guesses what the hidden track is numbered at. Lyric of choice : You’ve got a nice face / bad taste / I think you’re good at what you hate. Song of choice : "Ferris Wheel" – it’s that droney Chris Isaak guitar in the background I think. I’m a sucker. No no, it’s very movie soundtrack, quite nice. -Andy Scheffler Elsewhere Marnie Mains website Published : November 15, 2004.