You hear some singers for the first time and
know, beyond doubt, they are born for song. These are the sort of singers who
wear music like a loose garment, as natural as breathing itself, and treat
every word with the same gravity no matter the composer. Stephanie Rose has
long since proven she is that caliber of singer, but her new EP release Spout,
the second in her young career, catapults her into rarified air. The EP’s six
songs shows her mettle tackling various types of modern country, but also a
willingness to overturn the expectations of newcomers and reminding them that
country music is an elastic, rather than static, thing. She has a keen-eyed
acumen for looking past the surface of her subjects and a skill for
storytelling we hear from few performers of her ilk. This is the sound of a
gifted artist willing to take chances, but still more than capable of
entertaining the masses.
Stephanie Rose is in full control of the
first song, “Sprout”, from the moment her voice rises out of the mix. She
sounds energized by both the song’s sentiments and musical performance
surrounding her, but demonstrates the loose yet well placed consideration for
never overstating herself. Everything she does fits the song. This is further
away, nominally, from a typical country style than the EP’s later songs, but
the organ and horns added into the song only make it more enjoyable rather than
sounding like needless and arbitrary touches. Horns aren’t unheard of in
country music, but you nevertheless should admire the daring in attempting to
reintroduce them to modern audiences.
“Rusted Love” has songwriting showing how
Rose can write about well worn topics with her own voice and she has an eye for
telling imagery capable of opening a song’s meaning for listeners. The best
songs, invariably, allow listeners to form their own personal associations,
however, and though much of Sprout is written from a presumably
autobiographical slant, Rose is never so nakedly specific about her life that
it breaks the songwriting spell. “Rusted Love” is an excellent example of a
song that might resonate in different ways with very different people. The
drumming is a big reason for the song’s dramatic push, but it has strong
dynamics that draw you in.
"SPROUT" EP ON CD BABY: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/stephanierose4
The song “Luxury” is quite unlike the two
preceding numbers. There’s no striding rock beat or horns – instead, there’s a
level of intimacy present here Rose never aspires to in the first two numbers.
She takes us into the life of a family living on the financial margins and
preserving through it thanks to their love for one another – there’s no easy
answers offered up in this song and Rose’s voice confronts the its details and
subject matter with a wide ranging emotional vocal.
“Same Old Same Old” is a lot more light
hearted, by far, and has a balance between sensitivity and wry detachment that
I like, but it wouldn’t be nearly as successful without such an on point
arrangement. The bare bones tempo, harmonica and guitar, and instantly
memorable chorus are greater than the sum of their individual parts. Sprout shows
how to write and recording a meaningful EP release while making it sound easy.
Anyone who knows music and songwriting well understands, of course, these six
songs are the result of much effort, experience, years of honing a craft,
making the necessary connections with sympathetic collaborators, but Stephanie
Rose makes it all come across like these songs were there all along and only
waiting for her to arrive and give them voice. It’s the highest compliment I
can give and worth every syllable.
“LUXARY” SINGLE: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/luxury-single/1449442969
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