Emm Gryner - The Original Leap Year (1996)

Although The Original Leap Year was Emm Gryner's debut effort, it was an indie release and never found its way to a major label. Consequently it was her next album, Public, which would serve as her major introduction and for which she would become most well known. Nevertheless, seven songs from this record did find their way onto the brilliant Public album and that should be your first clue as to the strength of its content. The production on The Original Leap Year is considerably less elaborate than on Public, but it is an enjoyable experience nonetheless. This disc relies on the pure elegance of Gryner's writing and the beauty of her voice. Good songs will always stand up to different interpretations and this collection most certainly does. The seven songs which would eventually make the jump to Public are no less worthy than their more polished versions and the remaining five display, just as clearly, the undeniable songwriting skill of the young Canadian. The 12 tracks, really 12 months in the life of a young songwriter, represent a diary of sorts, which is very intimate and at times deeply moving. The package brought about the interest of Lilith Fair organizers and no doubt led to Gryner's first major label signing with Mercury Records. Simple in its approach and running the gamut from raw power to quiet simplicity, The Original Leap Year proves its beauty without the makeup of a major studio effort.