Rebecca Lovell’s vocals are the best I’ve heard from her and sister Megan’s slide guitar work continues to amaze me. Top shelf stuff here. (Definitely worth a listen.)
Easy To Like These Two
I’ve been a Larkin Poe fan for a few years now – ever since the 2019 Blues Bender in Las Vegas.
They impressed me musically, but I was also taken with their professionalism. They were performing outdoors in 110 degree heat, less than 24 hours after their last show. Sweating bullets and still crushing it. I remember thinking, “boy, if they keep working this hard, good things are gonna happen.”
And they sure have.
They’ve toured and recorded, recorded and toured – noses to the grindstone. And now, they’re legitimate headliners. Headliners who put on a great show and lay down some great tracks.
“if you can count to 4, you don’t need nothin’ more.” ~ Larkin Poe (“Blood Harmony”)
Their Latest Album Is People’s Exhibit #1
It feels to me that they’ve turned a corner on this album.
It’s not just a collection of the best songs they have on tap at recording time. It’s more a set of songs that thematically fit together. They’re more of an artistic reflection of the artist than what came before. A larger statement of who they are at this moment in their career.
Of course, all the usual boxes are checked. The band is sharp. The arrangements have variety and depth. Production values are solid. And Rebecca and Megans’ harmonies are as effortless and sweet-sounding as ever.
But I’m giving AP credit for a few other things.
The songwriting for one. You can tell this music pulls from their personal experiences – more than previous albums. But they package it up so it’s accessible, with enough hooks to satisfy a lot of radio playlists. I liked it.
Also, this is my favorite Rebecca Lovell vocal performance (so far). She does more with her voice on this album than I’ve ever heard her do. If you really listen to her on each song, you’ll find her usual strength but also a subtlety and nuance that is the equal of anyone recording today. Well done.
Shout Out To Megan’s Slide Solos
I don’t know how she does it, but she always seems to find just the right lines to elevate their songs.
I’m sure there’s some hard work involved — and plenty of practice time — but the end product seems effortless. It’s just a joy to listen to – every time.
The bottom line is, you should listen to this album if you’re a Larkin Poe fan and you should listen to it if you’re not. Oh, and if you’re not, expect that to change 42 minutes later.
Preview ‘Blood Harmony’
…You can get ‘Blood Harmony’ directly from Larkin Poe H E R E!
Thanks for reading!
Jon Beres
I’m one part Blues Fan and one part Digital Native (with a dash of Curmudgeon.) I’m also the publisher of AlltheWayBlue.com. If you love the Blues, I have a feeling we’ll get along just fine - cheers!
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