These Are My Whiskey Dreams
Self-Released, 2019
8/10
Listen to These Are My Whiskey Dreams
A New York City native and now Los Angeles resident, Christina LaRocca takes the blues and soul influences from her earlier years, and injects them into a wealth of genres running wildly amid her current California home on this sophomore album.
“A Man Like You” gets the listen off to a hand clapping and acoustic guitar strumming start, as LaRocca’s soulful, booming vocals enter the bright country and Americana template, and “Capsized” follows with pop influences in the expressive anthem with LaRocca handling organ.
Elsewhere, “Hard To Trust In Love” brings the volume down with gorgeous cello in a hushed setting, and “Smoke Marijuana” recruits reggae influences into the laid back, groove filled fun.
The back half of the album offers the lush, dynamic, pop-friendly “Hearts Beat Faster”, the charged yet restrained “Breathe”, which pushes and pulls with beautiful tension, and “Child Of The Sun”, where LaRocca’s vocal range impresses as does the melodic yet rugged musicianship. “I Am Only Human” ends the album with much attention to mood, as a soulful formula bordering on R&B enters the heartfelt exit.
LaRocca finds herself in the company of some all star producers on this effort, and it shows in the lively and very crisp delivery of the tunes. Now in her mid 30’s, the songstress brings an elegant maturity to this record, yet with plenty of power and playfulness in the very forthright and unique endeavor.
Travels well with: Nattali Rize- Rebel Frequency; Florence And The Machine- Lungs