Have Purpose Live Long
Self-Released, 2021
8/10
Listen to Have Purpose Live Long
A singer-songwriter whose timeless talent runs parallel to names like Lucinda Williams, this 2nd album from New York’s Josie Bello brings us 8 originals that reside somewhere between country, folk and Americana, and are full of thoughtful and careful attention to detail.
Bello starts the listen with the sincere and heartfelt title track, where soft acoustic guitar complements her moving pipes amid the calm drumming and subtle backing vocals, and “Magic Of The Music” follows with a quicker pace of country rock nods as Bello gets a bit rugged.
At the midpoint, “I Bleed Human” flows with bluesy guitar work from Mike Nugent as gospel like backing vocals help make this one of the album’s best, while “Party With The Saints” is a playful tune that recruits Bello’s accordion and agile fiddle.
As we get near to the end, the sublime “Twenty-Five Years” displays much beauty in a breezy folk setting, and “Hole In My Life” exits the listen introspective and lush and showcases accordion, guitars and Bello’s expressive singing that we could never tire of.
It’s no surprise that Have Purpose Live Long has moved up the Contemporary Folk charts, as Bello presents easily relatable and enjoyable tunes that sound like they could have been penned in any decade since the ‘60s, and will sound just as great decades from now, too.
Travels well with: Julia Kasdorf- Motel; Megan Lacy- Salvation