California Centuries
Copperhead, 2022
9/10
Listen to California Centuries
The singer, guitarist and songwriter Laura Benitez returns with her most personal record yet, where she expands off the country template of With All Its Thorns, and embraces folk, rock and bluegrass ideas, too.
“Bad Things” opens the listen with Benitez’s pretty, soaring pipes alongside breezy guitars and emotive pedal steel in the hazy melodies, and “I’m The One” follows with a more rugged approach of well timed organ and agile acoustic guitar, as folk-rock nods enter.
Approaching the middle, “A Love Like Yours” bounces with an infectious energy of rootsy intimacy that’s quite charming, while “Plaid Shirt” lands in retro-country territory with its rural shuffle warmth.
Near the end, the swift bluegrass bouts of “God Willing And The Creek Don’t Rise” showcases swift string picking and playful fiddle from Amy Scher, and “I’m With The Band” exits and places Ian Sutton’s steel guitar front and center on the upbeat roots rock that will get your body moving to the lively, rich flow.
The last couple of years have been difficult for artists, and Benitez even had her living situation altered and then dealt with the California fires. She documents all those headaches with a very creative spirit that resonates a wise, diverse career highlight that still embraces twang, but yields plenty of heartfelt surprises.
Travels well with: Stacy Antonel- Always The Outsider; Surrender Hill- A Whole Lot Of Freedom