Wednesday 26 April 2017

Album Review: Angaleena Presley - Wrangled



The name Presley is a sure fire way to get the attention of any music fan. For Angaleena Presley however, her name is pure coincidence, despite common misconception.
I don't know about you but I've seen her latest album, "Wrangled" plastered all over social media and even on display in HMV right here in the UK. With this much buzz surrounding it, I simply had to check it out.
Before I get into this review, I must confess that prior to Wrangled, I hadn't listened to anything from Angaleena Presley since her Pistol Annies days so I was going into this album with an open mind.



For the first song on this album, Presley takes us back to her Pistol Annies roots. "Dreams Don't Come True" features both Miranda Lambert and Ashley Monroe- a high bar to set for a first impression. This song does what it says on the tin through cynical yet honest songwriting about falling short of your aspirations. "Dreams Don't Come True" combines Brandy Clark/ Kacey Musgraves style storytelling with the simplistic production and arrangement that I loved from Miranda Lambert's "The Weight Of These Wings".
A strong starting point.

Second song, "High School", is a nostalgia-ridden ballad about the roller coaster ride that is high school. The lyrics are certain to remind you of those days and of how glad you are to be older and wiser than you were back then- whoever said they're the best days of your life definitely needs to listen to this song!
"High School" was co-written by Presley alongside Sophie Walker, the leader of the Women's Equality Party and Ivy Walker, an Olympic athlete for team GB, it features themes of teen pregnancy and feminism (a recurrent ideology throughout the album).
I commend Angaleena Presley on the decision to turn two successful women with non-musical careers into songwriters with writing credits alongside Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton. A bold move which made this song all the more authentic. 


"Only Blood", a track co-written with none other than Chris Stapleton, tells the classic Country tale of a woman seeking revenge on an abusive husband. Chris Stapleton's traditional writing style alongside Presley's retro voice and production make this song feel like it came from a 1950s time capsule. The nonchalant, dreary tone of Presley's voice really captures the emotion of the protagonist.
It is a very well written song and the term "backsliders seat" is particularly powerful, though recycled from a past release. I'd argue that this is lazy songwriting but if I coined a term as strong as "backsliders seat" I'd probably try to revive it too.




One of the stand-out tracks on this album is "Country" its alternative and experimental arrangement creates a much-needed contrast from the strong yet repetitive production through the majority of this album. Presley rattles off all of the common cliche's in mainstream contemporary Country music - blue-jeans, bonfires, trucks etc. The song also features a rap verse from Yelawolf, which truly completes the "F*ck this mainstream Country-Pop trend" message that Presley is going for with this song. 

The title track of this album, "Wrangled" sparked my attention off the bat with its blue-eyed soul ("Girl Crush"/ "Blue Ain't Your Colour") tempo. The lyrics in this song follow the recurrent themes of feminism that are at the forefront of this album. It tells the story of a housewife who is feeling the strain of her day-to-day lifestyle - "Tired of waking up feeling like I've been wrangled". At this point I'm starting to wish she would sing something a little more uplifting.

My favourite from the album, "Bless My Heart" brings out Presley's accent more so than any other song so far on the album, giving it more personality and conviction than any of the songs so far.
As with every song on this album, the lyrics paint an honest picture of girls being... well, girls. If you're a fan of Miranda Lambert's "Only Prettier" then you'll enjoy this one too!

"Outlaw" is the prime example of my biggest criticism of this album. The lyrics are almost faultless and I am convinced by the storytelling that Presley has at some point felt like an outsider/ "Outlaw". However, as is the case in many songs throughout the album, the delivery of this song just isn't convincing enough. There isn't enough angst or power in the tone of her voice to convince me that she is a misunderstood "Outlaw".





"Mama I Tried" is riddled with themes of promiscuity, drinking and generally doing everything that goes against the stereotypes and expecations of working class women - "house full of babies and designer blue jeans". As I've said with previous songs, I like the message and the feistiness of the lyrics but I really wish she had something else to sing about.

"Groundswell"comes as a slight change in the theme of this album and I believe the story more than in any other song on the album. Presley tells of the trials and tribulations of being a musician, spending long hours travelling just trying to make ends meet - "One more song, one more show, one more Penny in the well" and "hoping that the t-shirts and the records will sell" discuss the uncertainty of earning a living as a musician. Whilst it's still sad and melancholy ballad, in line with the rest of the album, "Groundswell" possibly the bravest and most honest song featured on this album.

If I was reviewing this album based solely on the songwriting, It would score very highly in my books. I am can empathise with every story that Presley is conveying. However, as I've mentioned, Presley's voice simply doesn't do the songs justice in many cases. Her tone frequently meanders around the lyrics, to the point where she sounds fed up and ready to go home. On a second listen, I'm somewhat inclined to think that this was intentional to convey the topical theme of feminism and inequality within society - she's fed up of the way things are. If that's the case, I can understand the effectiveness of this decision.
With that said, this album is approx. fifty minutes long, and after listening to Presley complain about the way things are for the best part of an hour, I feel as drained as her vocals sound. I would argue that there should either have been fewer songs on this album, or some songs should have been traded in for songs that at least sounded a little more optimistic. 


The album is a bold statement against gender inequality so I nothing but respect for Presley's decision to use music to challenge a social issue that is clearly close to her heart.
My conclusion on this album is that I enjoyed all of the songs that are on there; I just wouldn't want to listen to the album in its entirety.




Best Songs: Groundswell, Mama I Tried

Worst Songs: Cheer Up Little Darling, Motel Bible


Rating: 6/10

Wednesday 15 March 2017

Review: Little Big Town - The Breaker



The name "Little Big Town" first caught my attention back in 2014 when I watched them win their second CMA Award for vocal group of the year. My initial response, as a long time Lady Antebellum fan, was to ignorantly hurl expletives at my television. However, years have passed since then, I am older, wiser and, after seeing Little Big Town rise to Country music success following "Tornado" and then the phenomenon that is "Girl Crush", I was forced to eat my words and eagerly anticipate what would come next from this group.
In February, they gave us their eighth studio album, The Breaker. And with writing credits from Lori Mckenna, Hilary Lindsey, Liz Rose and even Taylor Swift, it's fair to say expectations were high. Their previous two Country albums (we'll just sweep "Wanderlust" under the rug for now) meant that LBT had already set the bar pretty high for themselves. So, did they pull it off?




Let's start with the first track from the album, "Happy People". Don't let the title fool you, at a first glance you may expect an upbeat party track similar to "Good People" or "Day Drinking" but "Happy People" is a deep, thought-provoking track. Songwriting from Lori Mckenna brings us melancholy, somewhat cynical lyrics such as "Happy people don't cheat, happy people don't lie, happy people don't hate".
The simple arrangement around Karen Fairchild's lead vocals on this track makes it an excellent, attention-grabbing prologue to the rest of the album. 

Up next is "Night On Our Side". Immediately we're hit with those famous LBT harmonies that we've come to expect. "Night On Our Side" is an anthemic, Country-Rock track with lead vocals from Jimi Westbrook. This is a great party track and I wouldn't be surprised if they release it as a single at some point.




The third track on the album, "Lost In California" initially hits you with the Country sound that ran less clear on the previous two tracks. It's a sweet love song with a dreamlike production which initially suits the lyrics. However, as the song progresses, I can't help but feel this song meanders at five minutes long. It especially didn't need that minute long, experimental outro section - What on earth are those bizarre vocal shenanigans at the very end!? This song could have been much better without the need to try to be arty - if it ain't broke don't try and fix it!

Similar to "Night On Our Side", "Driving Around" is about having a good time with friends. 
It also brings us more of those loud, unmistakable LBT harmonies. Impressive as they may be, I can't help but think less would have been more on this track - particularly the way they all sing the word "around". It has obviously been done intentionally to emphasise the word and possibly make the song more memorable but, repeated throughout the song, it becomes irritating.

"We Went To The Beach" comes as a breath of fresh air at this point. A nostalgia-filled Country song with lead vocals from Philip Sweet. It may be simple but the convincing storytelling in this song alongside simple music makes it one of the strongest on the album. The easy-listening vocals are a welcome change from the usual harmonies which often overpower the lyrics and the music. Perhaps my favourite from this album.

Expectations were high when LBT announced that their first single from this album, "Better Man", was penned by Taylor Swift - that's a lot of pressure! However, Little Big Town perfectly executed this song. Lead vocals from Karen Fairchild are filled with the emotion needed to pull this one off. In terms of the arrangement, this song is the ideal blend of LBT harmonies and powerful instrumentation - if only they used this ratio more often...

As with many albums, The Breaker has it's fair share of "filler" tracks. "Rollin'", "Free" and "Don't Die Young, Don't Get Old" stood out for not standing out. "Don't Die Young..." particularly had the potential to be a stronger contender but the lack of emotion and conviction in the delivery of the lyrics let down some great songwriting.

The final three tracks on the album leave fans on a high. "Beat Up Bible" is an emotional ballad and whilst it wasn't self-written, Kimberly Schlapmann effortlessly delivers the lyrics with such conviction and sentiment. I think this album may have been much stronger if she had taken the lead on more than just this one song. 

"When Someone Stops Loving You" is an open, relatable song with a flare of Blue-Eyed Soul (think Girl Crush). The lyrics come as a collaborative effort from Hilary Lindsey, Lori McKenna and Chase McGill and if you're a fan of the bittersweet honesty of Mckenna and Lindsey then you won't be disappointed.
The final song, and title track of this album, The Breaker, is an apologetic ballad about breaking someone's heart. The song leaves a lasting impression with some very powerful lyrics - the perfect finale to a solid LBT album.

Overall, this album, though stronger than "Tornado" and "Painkiller", is somewhat hit or miss. Great songs such as "Beat Up Bible", "We Went To The Beach" and "The Breaker" are let down by weaker songs, "Rollin'", ""Lost In California" and "Driving Around".
In a genre that values "four chords and the truth", I would prefer to hear Little Big Town let the music do the talking more often as opposed to "clever" four-part harmonies and experimental production techniques which too often drown out the emotion of the song.


Little Big Town aimed to be the band without a frontman. However, in recent years, Karen Fairchild has slipped into the role of lead singer. Whilst her delivery of "Girl Crush" was incredible, I would prefer for her to take a step back and let the others take the lead on more of the songs, if not on singles (marketing is a powerful thing) then at least on more of the other album tracks. The sentiment of "We Went To The Beach" (Philip Sweet) and "Beat Up Bible" (Kimberly Schlapman) is far more convincing and powerful than in songs such as "Free", "Lost In California and "Don't Die Young, Don't Get Old" which are led by Karen Fairchild.
To put it simply, at its strong points, this album is incredible; at it's weaker points, it's awful.
As a whole project, however, The Breaker is a solid album from Little Big Town and I am sure I will be listening to it again for a while.

Best songs: "Beat Up Bible"; "Better Man"; "We Went To The Beach".

Worst songs: "Driving Around"; "Free"; "Lost In California"

Rating: 6.5/10



Wednesday 8 March 2017

The Hidden Gems Of C2C 2017


In just a few days, London will become Nashville. Thousands of Country fans from far and wide are making the trip to London for the annual phenomenon that is Country 2 Country and, with the likes Brad Paisley, Zac Brown Band and even Reba, it's sure to be an unforgettable weekend. As someone who has been to C2C twice, I've seen first-hand how easy it is to get caught up in the crowds and big names and overlook some of the great opportunities C2C has to offer. Be sure to download the C2C Festival App to stay up to date with what's happening when - this year it's bigger and better than ever.


So without further adieu, here's just a short list of the "hidden gems" to be found at this years weekend.


Signings
Keep your eye out for the opportunity to meet some of Country music's finest. In recent years the town square signing booth has hosted  Ashley Monroe, Charles Esten, Brandy Clark and Kix Brooks to name just a few. Details of this year's signings will be posted on the app but be ready to get there early- there will be a queue.

Holloway Road



At a first glance, this Essex duo may not look the part, trading boots for trainers and cowboy hats for snapbacks but they are certain to be a crowd-pleaser. Their Country/Pop/Rock sound is perfect for fans of Luke Bryan and Florida Georgia Line. They've played for crowds at the 2015 CMA fest in Nashville and toured the UK with John & Jacob. This year they're making their third appearance at C2C. Check them out on the big entrance stage at 15:10 on Saturday. 


Katy Hurt



With influences ranging between Carrie Underwood and Dolly Parton, this British Country songwriter is another artist you don't want to miss out on. She recently spent a month in Nashville working with songwriters and artists and has topped the UK iTunes Country chart with her singles, "Part-Time Girlfriend" and "Love You More". She'll be performing on the big entrance stage at 11:50 on Saturday and then on the Town Square stage at 11:10 on Sunday.


BBC Radio 2 Country Stage



If you're a fan of the CMA Songwriters Series then you'll love the BBC Radio 2 stage at Indigo. See some of the biggest names in Country songwriting, including Cassadee Pope, Charlie Worsham and Ward Thomas alongside many others. 


Atlanta Designs UK



Besides great music, C2C also hosts a fantastic range of stalls, selling all things Country. Make the most out of all of these because they are few and far between in the UK (We're still building our own Nashville). One of my personal favourites of these stalls is Atlanta Designs. They will be in the Town Square, selling all kinds of handmade memorabilia including wall art, mugs, plaques and bunting. Be sure to pay them a visit but be warned - you will want all of it!

Originails 
For the first time ever at C2C, you can treat yourself to a Country themed manicure. Originails will print your designs, maybe the C2C Logo, your favourite band or the classic stars and stripes.Whichever design you choose, you can wear them with pride all weekend.

Speed Dating



Still looking for the Tim to your Faith? What better place to find love than at C2C? For the first time ever, there will be a C2C speed dating event for any single cowboys and cowgirls out there. 


Five Guys


OK so this one isn't strictly a part of C2C but I always make it a tradition to make it my first stop of the weekend. American fast food at it's finest, it is sure to be the best burger or hotdog you've ever had (I'm not even being paid to say that!).



Yamaha Music Stage



It may be tempting to rush off between arena sets to have another look around the stalls or stand in line for another overpriced drink from the bar but don't miss the sets on the Yamaha Stage. This year it's hosting some great artists, including Cam, Cassadee Pope, Lucie Silvas and many others.

However you choose to spend your weekend, be sure to enjoy every moment. Sing and dance along to all your favourite songs, make some great memories and try not to cry too much when you're leaving on Sunday night - you can start the countdown to C2C 2018!