Folk singer Deirdre Flint’s first ? and currently only ? album, “The Shuffleboard Queens” is the prime example of what happens to that nice little girl that gets ignored in high school. She finds a guitar and writes songs about it.
How she radically differs in her methods is that she doesn’t take the angsty, quasi-bitch path of Alanis Morissette or Ani DiFranco. But we can’t lump every woman with a guitar together. Flint manages to poke fun at her own misfortunes with wit and unparalleled humor.
She started playing guitar to teach her elementary school students songs she wrote about American history ? the year and the lyrics of those songs are mysteriously absent from her biography.
After moving back to Pennsylvania in ’93 and further study of the guitar, Flint moved to Korea for a bit. Somehow, she magically returned to the U.S. and in ’99 she released her first self-financed album, “The Shuffleboard Queens,” marked by the wide variety of musical styles of her music ? from country to tango.
What is most notable are her lyrics. Her guitar playing is decent, but not particularly notable, and her voice, while not overly powerful, perfectly inflects her words. This infectious quality to her music is part of what makes it so enjoyable.
It’s an album you listen to and then feel an overwhelming urge to show your friends your favorite songs. In my case that would be “The Boob Fairy” and the “Cheerleader” song. Unfortunately for Flint, this is probably a common feeling. I know the novelty of those songs would wear off if I had to play them constantly. But I may have ADHD.
Flint starts off with three of her catchiest tunes. “We Fit Right” is about bad dates and getting stuck in an elevator with an Amway salesman. Next up is “Past Life Regressed,” which you can guess the topic of, followed by “Cheerleader.” I was surprised at Flint’s concert in the Common Ground Caf by how many people know this song. Picture being able to go back in time and be the popular girl, then make it tongue-in-cheek and you’re set.
Most of the other songs are cute and sweet, in particular the title track, but honestly aren’t my boat. Maybe it’s because of a distinct lack of estrogen on my part.
The CD is really worth buying, if only for “The Bridesmaid Dress Song” for its subtle wit and storytelling.
If you want to hear tracks from her CD and even purchase it from her ? avoiding Amazon’s super-saving shipping, go to www.deirdreflint.com.
