Finishing School is the first solo project for singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Sasha Bell. She's been an integral member of the Ladybug Transistor and the Essex Green but this is her chance to be in charge. Not surprisingly (in part because her compatriots from those two fine groups help out here), the finished product, Destination Girl, sounds quite a bit like those bands. The record blends country influences (the lilting Reno, Page 16); baroque pop leanings (the driving Hair, the lovely mid-period Kinks-influenced Rowan's Theme); Byrds-ian jangle pop (the title track); British folk-rock (the very Sandy Denny meets the Everly Brothers ballad Day Is Over); and good old indie pop balladry (the soft and dreamy Morning Light), and ends up near the top of the chamber pop class. All the songs are fully arranged, bursting with flutes, keyboards, strings, and percussion topped by Bell's sweet, unadorned vocals. The best songs on Destination Girl -- the melancholy and beautiful Destination Girl, Day is Over, and the charming Silent Space -- rank right up there with the best moments of the Ladybug Transistor and the Essex Green, which is high praise indeed, and, again, not at all surprising. So, despite one moment of less than wonderful songcraft (the overly long but still pretty good New Sensation), this is a very strong debut. And just in case you get the idea that the record is derivative because of all the comparisons mentioned here, put your mind at ease; Bell is very adept at synthesizing her influences and coming up with a sound all her own. This is highly recommended not only to fans of the Marlborough sound, but also to anyone who likes melodic and thoughtfully arranged pop. ~ Tim Sendra, Rovi

1		Reno
2		Hair
3		Destination Girl
4		New Sensation
5		Day Is Over
6		Silent Space
7		Rowan's Theme
8		Morning Light
9		Page 16
10		DVD

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