If you’re a fan of singer songwriters, definitely settle in for a new album by the emerging talent Ava Valianti. There’s a satisfying, engaging style to this album that’s sure to appeal to a lot of our followers, especially those who enjoy acoustic singer songwriters.
The opening track has an intriguing orchestral style that feels comfortable and engaging, introducing the listener to a unique overall style. But it’s the second track, “Buttercups” that really brings the style of Valianti’s charming vocal and songwriting. It’s a love song with some guitar and uke elements that feel just right… but if you stay with the track, about halfway through it explodes into a pop song that feels like it could have come right out of the latest Taylor Swift album. As much as I appreciate Valianti’s tender vocal moments, there are some absolutely soaring elements in this ballad style chorus (in the second half) that show what a talented artist we’re talking about here.
The third track “Laugh Track” begins with some strong acoustic chords and clever lyrics. This one reminds me of an artist (sorry for the throwback) called Pebaluna that we covered a while back. I’m not sure what it is about the turns of phrase here, but it really reminds me of some of those folk pop artists from the past decade or so. Another comparison I feel here is the Dodie Clark and Orla Gartland neo folk-meets-pop here. I had to chuckle at the “Ted Mosby” reference in this song as Josh Radnor is also a folk artist as well.
“Distant” has a gritty sensibility that makes it work really well. The chorus has a crispiness and forward moment that keeps the song feeling fresh. This might be the best pure songwriting on the album (which is all good, to be fair). The phrasing on this reminds me a lot of Phoebe Bridgers. And yes, I’m aware that I’m throwing around some big name comps here… deservedly so. Valianti’s writing is on that level and her vocal range, especially in the ballad-style aspects, absolutely deserves to be in that company. In a similar vein, “Clean My Room” brings this indie pop meets folk energy yet again. There are some atmospheric elements that allow for the sound to feel a bit lighter and “open” than others on the album, but it still has an inviting energy that pulls the listener into the song’s space. The lyrics are introspective, reflecting on the choices we make in our life that influence how other people perceive us.
The penultimate track “Hot Mess” has an intriguing distorted style in the opening. Honestly, I don’t usually feature music with that effect, but in the midst of an album with so many pop stylings, it’s kind of nice to have this track contrast a bit. There’s a grittiness in the vocal that’s a bit more muddled in the mix than the other tracks, but intentionally so. This one feels more like “alt pop” (as much as I hate that contradictory term) with elements of typical pop juxtaposed with some of these unique production quirks that give it an engaging style.
“Running on Empty” might be the track that appeals to my personal sensibilities the most (yes, I love a subtle banjo)… but it’s also some of the most tender vocal expressions on the whole album. I would describe the lyrical style as being like something you’d find in a journal, or a story from a dear friend. The vocal performance and delivery is plaintive, almost like expressing a prayer or a daydream. This is one that I would encourage everyone to spin, regardless of the type of music you usually like. It’s deeply human and the perfect way to end this album.
When I started out on this review, I was excited to dig deeper. Now that I’ve been down this road a few times with the album, I can confidently say that it’s the work of a quality songwriter who is well on the rise. I mention names like Swift, Clark, and Bridgers for good reason. Valianti has good company with this folksy pop style and I look forward to hearing more. If you only have time for one, “Laugh Track” might be the best single of the batch, but I genuinely recommend the whole album.
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