Too Sweet: Songs For Setting Boundaries
Self-Released, 2023
8/10
Listen to Too Sweet: Songs For Setting Boundaries
A deeply person listen, the singer-songwriter Laura Marie pens songs surrounding a trauma survivor’s difficulties sorting through life, love and relationships, and she’s got some impressive musicians along for the healing affair.
“I Told You So” starts the listen with a warm atmosphere, where Marie’s expressive voice is complemented by dreamy keys, crisp drums and pretty guitar from Jake Owens, and “Too Sweet” follows with thumping drums, and plenty of cozy, Americana friendly melodies floating around the rich textures.
In the middle, “Why” recruits strings from Delaney Stockli, Ludovica Burtone, Lourdes Rosales and Emily Hope Price for the elegant, orchestral intimacy that touches on timeless folk qualities, while “Painkiller” lands in fuller territory that benefits much from Kyle Thompson’s fluid drumming amid the heartfelt songwriting that explores drug addiction. The final track, “Shadows”, comes with 2 versions, and both are upbeat and rhythmic displays of diverse and dance floor friendly song craft.
There’s also a version of this release with a book, which is a memoir of the events that these songs are set around, as Marie makes for an empowering and emotive listen of profound self-awareness.
Travels well with: Erika Olson- This Is How I Pray; Helene Cronin- Landmarks