A believer in sheer individualism and an enemy of the monopolistic aspects of the music industry, Brooklynite Kirsten Price was testing the waters of the music world one sultry song at a time until she had enough to make a record, and her talent was soon realized by a huge pool of soulful alternative fans.

Her debut album, Guts & Garbage, is full of guts -- radiating a girl power gusto like that in Carrie Underwood's atypical smash hit "Before He Cheats" -- and is anything but garbage. I know the old adage "one person's trash is another person's treasure," but each track on this energetic and honest album is an instant prize.

Having grown up in London, and singing in all kinds of a cappella groups and choirs from a very young age, it's no surprise that Kirsten Price has all of the moody yet seductive styles of soulful icons like Lauren Hill, but with a more rugged Fiona Apple edge. Her elegant voice ranges from the lowest of low to the highest of high, giving her a vocal spectrum more colorful and complicated than many of her predecessors. Perhaps that's why she sang as a handpicked opener for Wyclef Jean and most recently Sly Stone, and had songs featured on popular tube favorites like CSI and Cashmere Mafia.

A Motown intro blends into an upbeat dance tune in Crazy Beautiful , while Magic Tree shows just how fantastical and far her talents reach, with its saucy, go-get-'em attitude, electronic tinges and catchy beats.

Kirsten maintains her individuality in a world where it's so easy to blend in to other humdrum pop hits, while still strutting her stuff like the biggest stars.

Additional Tracks:
Fall
Freedom