There is something about a well done fusion of rock and country that makes you want to get in a car and drive.
An obvious example is Lucinda Williams' classic Car Wheels On A Gravel Road, a clear influence of Nashville musician Sophie Gault's latest album, Baltic Street Hotel.
The album begins with the driving beats of "Kick the Devil Away," a successor both to the Williams' song and to Tom Petty's "Runnin' Down A Dream." Beyond a propulsive rhythm, the next key ingredient to a good driving song is a catchy chorus. Gault has them in spades and the "Are you alright?" of the opener is a snapshot of what is to come.
The album follows a bipolar diagnosis and explores the way the disorder affects her life. The bluesy "Fixin Things" owns up to the mistakes she's made along the way, promising that things will be different. Gault's vivid descriptions include comparing her past self to a worn-out book, an old dress with a broken zipper and a warped record.
Baltic Street Hotel was produced by Ray Kennedy, known for his work with Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams and Patty Griffin. Kennedy's production places the album in that sweet spot between rock and country, now much more commonly referred to as Americana.
The only cover on the album is a blues-rock take on Griffin's "Every Little Bit" from 1996. The added weight of a full band is a natural fit for the song's fiery and scathing lyrics.
The success of the album is more than the obvious nods to her musical heroes. The strength of Baltic Street Hotel comes from her songwriting skills and ability to share personal stories in a moving and poetic way. It's our Album of the Week on KAXE.
Must listens
- "Kick the Devil Away"
- "Fixin Things"
- "Poet in a Buick"
- "Kid on the Radio"
- "Jealousy"
"Every Little Bit"
