There are a lot of ways to describe “singer songwriter” music. It’s not even a genre, really. But when you find a singer songwriter who can move you to emotions, the genre doesn’t really matter. I’m going to say something about Loryn Taggart’s style; this album reminds me of classic music from the mid-20th century all while having the relevancy of the 2020s. It’s beautiful, timeless, and well worth your engagement.
The opening track “Boston in the Fall” is almost prayerful in its intentionality. The song moves along nicely with a sense of both romance and uncertainty. The plaintive vocal delivery is charming from first listen. It’s a beautiful invitation to the album and the sincerity listeners experience with Taggart’s storytelling style.
“Tell Me How” is the song that initially caught my ear with Taggart. Stylistically it has elements of pop and gospel, but the most important characteristic of the song is the soulful delivery. Horns, a good beat, and great backing harmonies all work to allow Taggart’s vocal to shine through. It’s about figuring life out, needing a guide to teach and instruct you through the difficult times.
The following track “The Vow” has a jazzy mysterious style to it. Taggart sings with a bit more of a theatricality on this one. It transitions into more of a pop tune with horns that will put listeners in the mind of mid-century Motown productions. “I went on my own to be a singer…” This one feels really personal, like it was written to show someone who doubted her that she has made it.
“Scandal Monger” has a spicy blues flavor to it, including a captivating horn part that’s going to pull listeners right to Frenchman Street. “Heat” slows things back down to a piano-based ballad that shows off Taggart’s intimate vocal style again. It’s incredibly thoughtful and puts me in mind of the inimitable Norah Jones. The intriguingly titled “i” with the stylistic lowercase “i” introduces a mysterious and dissonance-driven sound. It’s the kind of song that makes you lean in and listen close.
“Lighthouse” has a unique energy on the album, floating above the rest of the tracks with a lightness and buoyancy. It’s a bit more of a pop anthem than others on the album and it works really well here. The main lyric is about losing yourself in someone else sometimes. This is a common, relatable trap. Taggart captures the sentiment with something akin to a 90s pop style.
The final track on the album hits in a personal way, as I have lived in “Ohio” for the past 16 years. It’s also probably my favorite melody on the whole album. The bluesy style piano feels comforting and familiar to me. Taggart’s expressive vocal reminds me of Norah Jones again on this one. The orchestral backing shows the high quality of the production on this track specifically as well as the album as a whole. “Aren’t we all just humble people? In hard times we fall to our knees…” That line (if I heard it right) could not be more personal, more applicable, or more moving.
This album is special. Fans of singer songwriters will enjoy the stories that Taggart tells, but honestly her voice is so good you don’t even have to listen to the words to enjoy it. The sound and feeling of the album is really good. “Tell Me How” might be the definitive single from the album, but songs like “Boston in the Fall” and “Ohio” are definitely gems for me and will find their way into my personal rotation for the foreseeable future. Take some time to listen to Loryn Taggart’s sweet voice on this wonderful new album.
*Reviewed as part of the press campaign for the album release*
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