Record #147: Chelsea Crowell’s s/t
Singer-songwriter Chelsea Crowell is Music City royalty. If you aren’t familiar with the legacy she’s a part of, however, I’m not going to spoil it for you, because she’s a noteworthy enough performer to be judged by her own merits—not merely those of her family. Crowell’s self-titled debut features performances from some remarkably gifted local indie-rock players (including members of Lambchop, Silver Jews, Bobby Bear Jr. and more), and the songs themselves are fiercely personal folk and country ballads. While Crowell’s vocals aren’t perfect, her wounded, lovelorn lyrics are served well by her imprecise delivery. Very emotive and accessible. Built on a firm foundation of picked guitars, plodding stand-up bass, collaborative vocals and full but subtle instrumentation, Crowell’s debut—while far from immaculate—is a touchingly introspective collection, and a record that demonstrates both her potential and her capacity for collaboration. I’m having issues uploading any tracks, but you can find out more and hear some material here.
