Paulien

Coincidentally, I listened to female jazz vocalist Paulien's self-titled album on Valentine's Day and discovered the songs to be about love. The eighth track is even called "Be My Valentine" and repeats the title as a refrain in the song.

The vocals on the first four tracks often sounded low and husky, creating a melancholy feeling. The fifth track, "You Are," has a bouncier up-tempo and lyrics that express more happiness in romance than the previous songs. The singer tells her lover, "You are all I hoped a love could be." The happy tone continues in the next two songs, but then becomes sad again, the lyrics in the final two tracks telling of longing and heartbreak after a relationship ends.

If you are looking for a CD that expresses different stages of love, both the good and the bad, then check out Paulien. The album's jazz music and vocals transport you to a dark and smoky lounge, listening to a female singer accompanied by a few musicians, while you sit at a small table and have a drink, either alone or with a significant other.