Karmine Alers--she matters to us...

September 8, 2:34 PMLong Island Pop Culture ExaminerKailyn Terlato

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If you are a fan of the Broadway play, "Rent", and you have seen the play anytime between 2004-2006, you may know of Karmine Alers.

Alers hails from Spanish Harlem and was a member of the band 3rd Party, who recorded their album Alive right here on Long Island in 1997.  After the band called it quits, she and bandmate Maria Christenson went their separate ways.  Christenson went on to release a solo album and Alers auditioned for the role of "Mimi" in "Rent", following in the footsteps of her older sister, Yassmin Alers. 

In 2005, after quite a few stints on the Nederlander stage, Karmine released her solo CD, "For You", which was produced by Jimmy Greco, her manager and future husband and has since starred in some lesser known projects like "Good Morning Baby", a short film offered for free on iTunes a couple of years ago which starred Piper Perabo, ("Coyote Ugly"), in the main role and Alers as Daphne, her friend.  Her most recent film was "Whirlwind" in which she played "Fiona".

Below is a brief description of the tracks on this CD, along with a numerical rating.  If you do not have your own copy, you can pick it up here from Amazon.com and you can learn more about her and other artists on Airgomusic.com.  If you send her an e-mail, she will even be sweet enough to answer you!

Track 1: It Matters to Me--(8)--the only song released off of the album, with a music video featuring fellow Rent alum, the sexy Cary Shields, Alers here is saying how she sees the hope where he doesn't, she sees the happiness they used to experience and that they can one day experience once again.  She's trying to convince him not to give up on their relationship, her love, and life in general.

Track 2: Burn--(7)--a ballad about love gone wrong, Alers sings with gusto and can truly convince us of the pain she has endured before.

Track 3: Other Plans--(7)--a catchy tune with a good beat wherein the girl has been burned before and the man will not give up on her.  She thinks love's a disease, he wears his heart on his sleeve.  He's in love but she has other plans.

Track 4: I Missed You--(6)--a ballad about her less-than-perfect father, Alers pours her heart and soul into the lyrics of this song while belting out those notes with such credence, you can understand why she got the part in "Rent".

Track 5: Out Tonight--(8)--if you know "Rent", then you know this song.  And if you never caught Karmine live, this will be a great substitute.  She pours her incredible vocals over the wonderful lyrics of this song where Mimi tries to get Roger to give up his vices and come out with her tonight, to truly live life instead of letting it bring him down.

Track 6: Sister, Sister--(7)--a song for her sister, Yassmin, she's trying to give her sister some solid advice about a guy that she's dating that just isn't right for her.  Alers reminds her of the advice she gave her when they were younger and insists that she not let the fire burn out or to let him fill her head full of doubts--be brave.

Track 7: I Survived You--(8)--a beautiful piano-laden song about hindsight being 20/20.  She has vacated an awful relationship and instead of harping on what they did wrong, she's proud of herself that she is stronger now because of everything she learned.  "When you wrote me off like I was doomed, I survived you."

Track 8: Out Tonight (Dance Remix)--(4)--this song is basically a remix of the version of "Out Tonight" that she has three tracks above.  The album could've done without this track, but 8 tracks is a bit more solid than 7 so something had to be filler.

Overall album rating: 7

(the author and Karmine Alers)