Despite its title, 10 Song Demo isn't really a demo tape, but it is what the title suggests -- a stripped-down, direct collection of songs (for the record, there are 11 songs, not ten).
Conceptually, it is a brilliant way to signal that Rosanne Cash has severed ties with Nashville, as well as begun her contract with Capitol Records.
However, the album doesn't completely work.
Essentially, 10 Song Demo is an official statement from Cash that she is no longer strictly a country singer, but an all-around singer/songwriter.
Of course, she has always bent the rules of country music, so this isn't a big departure as far as songwriting goes.
Musically, however, the spare, simple arrangements lack all of the country and pop production flourishes that marked her last two albums.
Though it initially sounds fine, there isn't much variation to the music, and her melodies are frequently uncompelling.
That can't be said of her lyrics -- they are as cutting, emotional, and affecting as they have been, and they are the main reason for listening to 10 Song Demo.
| Title/Composers | Performer | Listen | Time | Size | Size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Price of TemptationRosanne Cash | Rosanne Cash | Play | 02:13 | 5 MB | 10 MB |
| 2 | If I Were a ManRosanne Cash | Rosanne Cash | Play | 03:22 | 7 MB | 16 MB |
| 3 | The Summer I Read ColletteRosanne Cash | Rosanne Cash | Play | 03:45 | 8 MB | 23 MB |
| 4 | Western WallRosanne Cash | Rosanne Cash | Play | 03:02 | 6 MB | 13 MB |
| 5 | List of BurdensRosanne Cash | Rosanne Cash | Play | 03:05 | 7 MB | 18 MB |
| 6 | Child of SteelRosanne Cash | Rosanne Cash | Play | 03:38 | 8 MB | 18 MB |
| 7 | Just Don't Talk About ItRosanne Cash, John Leventhal | Rosanne Cash | Play | 03:50 | 8 MB | 18 MB |
| 8 | I Want to KnowRosanne Cash | Rosanne Cash | Play | 03:18 | 7 MB | 19 MB |
| 9 | Take My BodyRosanne Cash | Rosanne Cash | Play | 03:56 | 9 MB | 19 MB |
| 10 | Bells And Roses | Rosanne Cash | Play | 03:05 | 7 MB | 15 MB |
| 11 | Mid Air | Rosanne Cash | Play | 02:38 | 6 MB | 12 MB |
| 35 mins | 82 MB | |||||
| 35 mins | 185 MB | |||||
| Artist | Job | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Larry Campbell | Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Vocals (Background) |
| 2 | Rosanne Cash | Composer, Guitar (Acoustic), Piano, Primary Artist, Producer, Vocals |
| 3 | Gary Gersh | Liner Notes |
| 4 | John Leventhal | Composer, Engineer, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Bass), Guitar (Electric), Keyboards, Percussion, Producer |
| 5 | Lincoln Schleifer | Guitar (Bass), Percussion |
| Quality | Format | Encoding | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | MP3 | 320kps 44.1kHz | MP3 is an audio coding format which uses a form of lossy data compression. The highest bitrate of this format is 320kbps (kbit/s). MP3 Digital audio takes less amount of space (up to 90% reduction in size) and the quality is not as good as the original one. |