By Al Kaufman

While most 20-year-old entertainers have already been through two stints of rehab, Kate Voegele, a rising junior at Miami of Ohio, chooses instead ,to belie her tender age by writing and singing songs that sound like they come from a woman with many more years of experience in life as well as music.

On her debut CD, the exotic looking Voegele demonstrates that she has all the elements to make herself a star. She bookends Don't Look Away with the same type of country-tinged pop songs that made Sugarland the giants they are today. And Voegele clearly has the vocal capacity to give Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles reason to keep looking over her shoulder. "It's Only Life" is what Coldplay would sound like if they had a female lead singer (and a better lyricist).

But Voegele is also a grrrl with guitar. "No Good" isn't quite on the level of Joan Jet, but it's damn close. And just in case you weren't sure, Voegele throws in the line "I hate myself for loving you" more than a few times.

This is by no means great album, but it's much better than it ought to be and, once she become old enough to drink and get some real life experiences under her belt, Voegele is someone who has the capability to pump out a really stellar album or four.

Kate Voegele plays with Click Five at Vinyl, Thursday, June 13, 8 pm.
$10/$12 door (find tickets)