River
Gar Hole, 2023
8/10
The Arkansas native, singer-songwriter and renaissance woman Bonnie Montgomery returns with a heartfelt listen that embraces all the different aspects of her diverse life.
The warm piano and very expressive singing of the powerful “River” opens the listen with some country spirit, and “Modern-Day Cowgirl’s Dream” follows with Whitney Rose’s harmony vocals populating the light twang of the melodic delivery.
Halfway through, “Half Drunk” welcomes Jimmy Davis’ voice that harmonizes with Montgomery amid the aching pedal steel, while “Leon” is a textured album highlight that uses strings strategically in the adventurous Americana setting.
“Seventeen” arrives near the end and is full of bright storytelling that allows Montgomery’s soaring pipes to shine, and “This Town” exits with a dreamy presence of soft and eloquent song craft.
A listen that’s full of honky tonk fun, but also touches on Montgomery’s time in opera and folk, the meshing of outlaw country, rootsy Americana and bluesy nods is sure appreciated here.
Travels well with: William Matheny- That Grand Old Feeling; Elllie Turner- When The Trouble’s All Done