When It All Goes Down
Ringleader, 2023
8/10
Listen to When It All Goes Down
The debut album from the Vermont Americana artist Sarah King, the veteran musician dealt with much tragedy at one time, and that led to these darker, introspective songs.
The thoughtful and soulful “Lord Take My Soul” starts the listen with King’s expressive voice and agile guitar emitting much power, and “Always An Almost” follows with Jason Pappas’ playful bass and Alex Kelley’s warm keys making for a cozy presence.
The middle belongs to the dreamy ambience of “Blame It On The Booze”, where Jeff Lipstein’s thumping drums and Asa Brosius’ eloquent pedal steel won’t go unnoticed, while “Hey Hey What Can I Do” recruits Johnny Stanton’s bass and melodic singing from King for the frisky album highlight.
Landing near the end, “Pretty Things” welcomes a hazy intimacy via Renee Hikari’s agile drums and the mysterious singing, and “Devil’s Try” exits with firm hand clapping and rugged qualities amid Dan Blaise’s meticulous slide guitar.
A highly eclectic listen, King is versed in blues, Southern sounds, Gothic ebbs and country, as this is a cathartic and relatable experience from an artist whose sincerity matches her creativity.
Travels well with: Rachel Burns- What A Nasty Woman; Lauren Monroe- Messages From Aphrodite