Marie-Mai - Dangereuse Attraction (2007)

After logging several years on the road in support of 2005's platinum-selling Inoxydable, Marie Mai returned with Dangereuse Attraction, a rock-heavy set that borrowed liberally from the American alt rock scene, particularly bands like Evanescence. Mai's vocals mirror those of Amy Lee in many ways, walking the delicate line between melodic and anguished for much of Dangereuse Attraction's course. The songs themselves are interesting, coursing with energy courtesy of the strong guitar lines and drums provided by her bandmembers. At the same time, after the novelties of Mai's vocal delivery start to wear off, the album starts to lag a bit as it wanders into more standard balladry. As though anticipating such criticisms ahead of time, however, Mai follows each quieter, simpler bit with either a new pop/rock outburst, or a new method of interacting with the vocals, highlighting aspects of her voice that didn't seem to exist prior in the album ("Avec Elle" manages to cover both the lackluster and the interesting in the same song). It's not the most innovative album to come from the Quebecois scene, but it's certainly different, eschewing the contemporary fascination in Quebec with singer/songwriters in favor of what would be a more passé endeavor elsewhere -- straight-up pop and rock with just the tiniest tinge of country.