Earlier this week I caught a video on VH1 by Antigone Rising just as I was getting ready for work. I believe the video was for "Don't Look Back". I just loved the harmonies and the catchy melodies. I was quite surprised to find myself enjoying this song because my taste in music is usually off the beaten path from the mainstream. For the rest of the week, the band remained in the back of my thoughts. When I came across a copy of "From the Ground Up" I quickly purchased it (along with a couple of other cds). I really am not much of a country/rock fan. I find most country music irritating and most rock music rather dull. Thank heavens I cannot say that Antigone Rising's music is irritating or dull. The music is a good blend of rock and country. I thought it was interesting that Antigone Rising would work with Starbucks Coffee to put out a live album I(in a studio session with a few fans is more like it). Good way to introduce their music to new fans like myself. I like how raw and unpolished Cassidy's vocals are. Most of the songs I liked. I did think that "Happy Home" was a bit too twangy for my tastes. Singer Cassidy reminded me of Dixie Chicks' Natalie Maines whose voice I find rather grating, a lot of the songs on the album tends to go into country more times than I cared to listen to. I wasn't terribly impressed by "Waiting, Watching, Wishing" either. The song did not have the same emotional resonance on me like the other songs did. My favorite songs on the album has to be "Don't Look Back" (co-written with MB20's Rob Thomas), "She's Not Innocent", and "Open Hearts and Doors". I also love the beautiful ballad "Michael" which is about the death of a friend of one of the band members. No matter how many times I have listened to the song, hearing Cassidy sings this song brings tears to my eyes. Overall I immensely enjoyed what I heard on this live album. In the state of music today with overproduced female pop stars, the industry needs more women like the gals in Antigone Rising. This is music with soul.