Kathleen Edwards
Billionaire
*** out of *****
Edwards has moved around a bit, leaving her native Ottawa and relocating to her adopted Florida as she sings about her travels, relationships and ideas throughout Billionaire. The album opens with the relaxed folk rock of "Save Your Soul" which goes over the age old adage that money won't accomplish the title. "Say Goodbye, Tell No One" stays in this easy Jackson Browne-like sound with smokey 70's vibes and a great guitar solo while "When The Truth Comes Out" is also a solid direct rocker in the same vein.
Helping Edwards (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, claps) Isbell (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, keys, synth, background vocals), and Johnson (piano, background vocals, claps), are Anna Butterss (bass), Chad Gamble (drums, percussion), Jen Gunderman (piano, celeste, Hammond B3 Organ, Wurlitzer, claps), Shelby Lynne (background vocals), Allison Moorer (background vocals), Annie Clements (bass, claps), Matt Sucich (background vocals), Rob Moose (violin, viola, string arrangement and engineering), Corrina Grant Gill (background vocals) and Dave Brown (claps).
Edwards sharpest writing comes through on her best song here, "Little Red Ranger" as she sets down vivid details, local points of reference and a sense of relationships evolving in evocative fashion. Another winner is "Little Pink Door" as Edwards gets specific, making the acoustic based number connect with the listener.
A bit too often Edwards seems to fall into generalities and a sense of malaise. "Need A Ride" has good intentions but is slow moving and never really connects over the long run time while the dissolution of a friendship song "Other People's Band's" feels slight.
The title track goes the opposite route, swelling as it deals with grief, love and loss around stout musical surroundings while the album closes on a yearning love song "Pine". Edwards seems most comfortable singing out the praises of her adopted home state as "FLA" feels honest and heartfelt; it could easily be used in the next tourism campaign commercial for the North Florida region as organ and a great guitar solos support the singing.
At ease, working with strong support, Kathleen Edwards Billionaire floats along at times digging in emotionally and at times happy to sit on the beach and watch the white Pelicans in winter.
____________________
Support the artist, buy the album, peep some video below:
No comments:
Post a Comment