Seastories (2007) is the second studio album by actress Minnie Driver following Everything I’ve Got In My Pocket (2004).

She is best known for her successful roles on the big screen extending back to 1995 and the movie Circle of Friends and staring alongside Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in Good Will Hunting. But music has always been on the agenda, even prior to hitting her strides as an actress with Driver performing in a band at the age of 19. In her own words, “We made a terrible record and drank most of the development money.”

Although many actress’ / would be singers approach the music market with the typical pop appeal, Driver’s unique vocal tone and somewhat earthy vibe on this release reduces the material’s commercial appeal but gives her credibility for staying true to her own.

Her soft melodies come naturally and her voice is a pleasure to listen to. But it’s not possible to be great at all things. So seeing she has the acting career and vocal potential in check, her flaw lies within the songwriting capability.

After listening through the entire record, not one track really stood out. The album seemed to flow from one to the next with little variation. It left me feeling relaxed; an album I would consider listening to while drinking tea on a Sunday afternoon on the veranda porch. Seeing I don’t drink it, the record you could say was not my “cup of tea”.

Guest performers on the album include Ryan Adams & The Cardinals and he lends a guitar for a sweet sounding track in “Beloved”. But lyrics such as “I’m an alien in my life, don’t you know, my skin is white as snow,” in “London Skies” don’t quite hit the mark for me.

I enjoyed her voice but developing more enticing lyrics and hence quality tracks to warrant her voice would have impressed me more. I was waited for the moment where a track was offered that I wanted to come back to and for her voice to really soar, but it didn’t quite come. “Cold Dark River” came closest.

Overall, pleasant but not completely satisfying.