8355 is the first CD from Sandi Kay Doehrman, a Phoenix artist who has played for years in Arizona resort lounges. The CD features a mix of musical styles, with folk, pop, country and even a little reggae all evident. Sandi plays acoustic guitar and keyboards, and handles the vocals. She is aided by the addition of acoustic and electric guitars, bass (played by her husband Doug), and drums. Although 8355 was recorded in a home studio, the sound quality is excellent, as is the mixing.

The title of the CD, 8355 is the house number where Sandi grew up in Romeo, Michigan, and many of the eleven songs are reflections of those growing-up years. The lyrics are on the straighforward side, yet there is a charm to them that keeps any sentimentality from becoming cloying. The thing that elevates 8355 above many releases of its type is Sandi's beautiful, clear voice, the well-done arrangements, and some really nice guitar work by Billy Maravich.

Sandi either wrote or co-wrote all of the songs here, which were written anywhere from the early '80s up until this year. Standout tracks include "Angel In My Dreams," a song about her mother, and "This Night," which is on the theme that memories last for all of one's time. Other above-average tracks are "Doin' Time" (a poignant ballad about loss), "8355" (a return to a time of innocence) and "A Friend As Good As You," which is on the theme of childhood friendships being like no other. Other tracks are the love song titled "Everything," the reggae-flavored "Think Of You," "Cinderella," "Last Time," "Between The Lines" and "Helplessly In Love."

At 42:47, 8355 is somewhat on the low end timewise, yet there is not a bad song on the CD.

[ by Robert Buck ]