The Moon Is An Ashtray
Rights, 2020
9/10
Listen to The Moon Is An Ashtray
A Nashville resident who is no stranger to blues, country and jazz sounds, Miss Tess brings her guitar and inimitable pipes to this very eclectic record that often flows with a retro approach.
“The Truth Is” starts the listen with warm Spanish guitar work on the rich, Americana display with forthright wordplay, and “True Flood” follows where a duet with Lake Street Dive’s Rachael Price adds much to the piano focused fun.
In the middle, “I Wanna Be A Cowboy” offers yodeling amid honky tonk nods in a tune that brings Vaudeville qualities, while “If You Don’t Know How To Love Me” enters ballad territory with aching pedal steel alongside the soaring, flawless singing from Tess. “Take It Easy”, one of the album’s best, then highlights rollicking and rowdy piano rock that glides with grit and melody.
Near the end, “These Blues” brings us to more traditional country sounds with a good balance between percussion and pedal steel, and “Riverboat Song” finds a dreamy pace to reside, where psyche-rock ideas enter her inimitable formula.
Whether your inclination is towards folk, country, jazz or even punk, Miss Tess has plenty to go around here, or, if you’re like me, you’ll enjoy all the diversity present on The Moon Is An Ashtray.
Travels well with: Cara Louise- Fragile Heart; Moody Little Sister- Great Big Mama Sunshine