For a singer/songwriter to really appeal to a mass audience it often seems as though they need some personality trait that sets them apart from the rest of the talented musicians out there creating music. For anyone who has seen Rosie Thomas live they would know what I’m talking about when I say that Rosie has what it takes to set her apart. Not only does she have the voice of an angel, but she has the sense of humor of a staff writer for Saturday Night Live, as evident by her alter ego "Sheila" (a nerdy social outcast with a neck brace and broken glasses), which she occassionally pulls out at shows. Although Sheila has yet to show up in any Rosie Thomas songs, she’s still a big part of who Rosie Thomas is as a performer and a big part of what helps set her apart from the crowd.

With that said…the music on her 2^nd full-length "Only with Laughter Can You Win" released on Sub-Pop Records is the complete opposite of what you would expect Thomas’s alter ego to create. Comprised mostly of story-telling ballads set to a slow to mid-tempo beat incorporating piano, acoustic and electric guitar, keyboards, moog and bass these songs are destined to touch the heart, mind and soul of many listeners. The music in this release is simple and nothing groundbreaking, but it’s Rosies vocie that is truly unforgettable.