Francine
Honey’s To Be Continued… will likely be considered a
breakthrough moment in the Ontario singer/songwriter’s career. Her previous two
albums are fine enough, even exceptional, but this third collection goes even
further towards establishing Honey as a songwriter possessing an uniquely
personal vision. “Snowflakes on My Eyelashes” serves as an excellent
introduction to how she’s elevated her game; the lean poetics of the lyrical
material is unquestionable. The song’s lead musical instrument is guitar, but
it never takes a spotlit role – Honey, instead, opts to use the instrument in
an ornamental way and the color it brings fills in the spaces left by the
song’s percussion. Few songs are as patient as this; it never gets in any hurry
and evolves at a luxurious pace, but it pays off in an impressive way.
“To Be Continued”, the album’s title song,
might remind some of the first track in the way it develops. The same patient
approach to arranging is presented, but the spartan array of instruments on
this cut is centered on the melodic piano runs Honey drops into the song along
the way. It’s a fascinating song in a lot of ways, but one that leapt out to me
is how much detail is laden into a comparatively short tune without ever
seeming too much. “Honey” is very different fare. Honey’s focus turns towards a
more blues-oriented sound with this song, though there are strong country
influences working here as well, and the slide guitar near the song’s end
highlights the former’s contributions. Honey’s having a great deal of fun with
this one and it’s an infectious experience for listeners.
The video released along with the single
“Shacked-Up Sweetie” makes for an entertaining one two punch sure to
garner To Be Continued… some much deserved attention. Her
video for the song reminds me of the prime years for music videos; it plays up
the song’s comedic potential without ever reducing the song to a novelty
number, obviously benefits from being helmed by top notch video professionals,
and presents Honey in the best possible light. The song, on its own, is fine as
well – a familiarly rough and tumble country/blues rock number that doesn’t aim
for the lowest common denominator but makes great hay from pouring old wine
into new bottles. It’s obvious why Honey selected this song for such an
important spot.
There’s a virtual duet fueling the track
“Space” – Honey’s voice and the accompanying violin pair for a deeply moving
exchange culminating with a chorus you won’t soon forget. Coming where it does,
after “Shacked-Up Sweetie”, the song might be a sleeper gem on this release,
but it easily ranks with the album’s best songs. “Open Road” is another more
overtly commercial track, retro sounding all the same, but the personal touch
it derives from the lyrics helps make it stand apart from songs cast in a
similar mold. Acoustic guitar forms a lot of the bedrock sustaining “I Wish”,
but the country sound of the song is inescapable and the piano lines running through
the track provide a lightly played melodic lift.
Francine Honey’s To Be
Continued… is an appropriate title. The latest chapter in Honey’s
musical development has her reaching heights previously unavailable and signals
she’s in this for the long haul; there isn’t a single hole marring this
release, no filler at all, and the apparent care she took making sure each song
strikes the right chord for listeners results in one of the most unified
efforts in recent memory.
Joshua Beach
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