The heavenly sound of Emmy Rossum

Her career background includes a stint in the children’s chorus of the Met, stage musicals, television and now also Hollywood movies. So it would not have been far fetched to assume that when Emmy Rossum decides to record a solo album after all those soundtracks, the contents would not be too far off from the music she is most associated with.

A collection of timeless favorites from Broadway would be nice. Since she has the training, some light arias would also be a good possibility. Then maybe, because she is young and very attractive, a mix of pop and light classics would be really great. You know, the sort that they call popera. Just think she could be like a female Josh Groban or Andrea Bocelli.

Judging from the way her solo recording turned out though, it is clear that Emmy does not think that way or she probably just refuses to be predictable. Titled Inside Out, it instantly surprises with some dishy photos of Emmy in bed draped only in a sheet in the cover. Quite daring for a first album.

It has one oldie, Paul Williams’ Rainy Days and Mondays and 10 new originals. And here comes another surprise. The credits list Emmy down as co-writer in most of the tracks. Interesting to find out that there is a composer inside that lovely head. The titles are Slow Me Down, Inside Out, Stay, Falling, The Great Divide, Lullaby, Don’t Stop Now, High, A Million Pieces and Anymore.

So time now to listen and hear that sweet voice soar. Next, Slow Me Down starts to play and you get the biggest surprise of all. She does not soar. There is nothing in the CD that one would associate with the girl who sang Christine in the movie version of Phantom of the Opera.

What Emmy has created is a multi-layered confection of breathy vocals that recalls Enya or Sarah McLachlan. It should really be called New Age, but it is too sexy, Unsew my seams look inside if you dare, she whispers in the title cut. It is also too personal, What’s coming over me, I have no control, she says in Falling. But New Age is still the genre that this kind of music is closest to.

So Emmy does not soar but she sounds beautiful and the music is heavenly. Besides, you cannot help but admire her daring. This girl, so young at 22 years old dared to break the mold she had been cast in almost all her life. And with those results, you can’t help but take another look and give another listen.

Emmy started singing as a little girl and was a member of the Lincoln Center Metropolitan Opera Children’s Chorus. She started acting when she was 12 and appeared on TV shows like Law & Order and As the World Turns and in films like Songcatcher, Mystic River, Poseidon and The Day After Tomorrow.

Emmy became the envy of many female singers and actresses in Broadway and Hollywood when she landed one of the most coveted roles in motion picture history, that of Christine in the musical Phantom of the Opera. Her performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a comedy or musical. Check out the movie soundtrack. Emmy does a great job with the much-loved songs.

Billboard’s Top 10

And now, here are the Top 10 songs in Billboard Magazine’s Pop 100 Singles chart: Love Song by Sarah Bareilles; Low by Flo Rida featuring T-Pain; With You by Chris Brown; Don’t Stop the Music by Rihanna; No Air, a Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown; Love in This Club by Usher feat. Young Jeezy; See You Again by Miley Cyrus; Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis; Stop and Stare by OneRepublic; and Sorry by Buckcherry.

The Top 10 among the Top 200 Albums are Trilla by Rick Ross; Now 27 by Various Artists; Ego Trippin by Snoop Dogg; Sleep Through the Static by Jack Johnson; Good Time by Alan Jackson; The Elephant in the Room by Fat Joe; Little Voice by Sara Bareilles; Discipline by Janet; New Amerykah: Part One (4th World War) by Erykah Badu; and the Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: The Best of Both Worlds Concert by Miley Cyrus.