With this album Dawn Landes builds nicely on her two earlier, limited availability, releases: "Dawn's Music"(2005)and the excellent mini-album "Two Three Four"(2006). Indeed you'll find a track from the former and two from the latter on "Fireproof".
What we have here is a fine album planted firmly in the Americana landscape. With songs ranging from the folksy 'I Don't Need No Man', to a tough, but not entirely successful, rock-out like 'Picture Show' there is still plenty of time for some bitter-sweet country tinged musings along the way, 'Tired Of This Life' and 'You Alone' being obvious standouts. Perhaps the biggest surprise is the 'hidden track' version of Tom Petty's 'Won't Back Down',which, in its original form, while having a certain catchy 'anthem of defiance' quality, has always been an eminently throw-away-pop ditty. Dawn Landes takes this song and imbues it with a wistful sadness that you would not have thought possible, such that the song becomes genuinely moving, achieving what all good cover versions should aim for, casting the song in a totally new light. Incidentally I nearly forgot to mention, her voice is excellent throughout.
Overall I would suggest that this is a good album but not a great one, some of the songs just don't quite do it, but there is enough quality here to ensure that you are unlikely to regret the purchase if you decide to make it.