It’s A Beautiful Day And I Love You
Moss Rose, 2021
9/10
Listen to It’s A Beautiful Day And I Love You
A Nashville songstress who, despite just being in her early 30s, has a lengthy career in the music industry that goes back to playing shows of original music at just 12 years old, this first album in four years has Jillette Johnson expanding her musical palette into bolder and bigger ideas.
“Many Moons” starts the listen with mysterious atmosphere as Johnson’s warm keys and versatile vocals enter the playful folk influenced opener, and “Angelo” follows with a fuller display of cautious and soaring rock where her vocals shine bright amid loud guitars and crisp percussion from Dan Knobler and Jamie Dick.
Close to the the middle, the title track moves initially calmer with much beauty as a poetic approach builds into an emotive outpouring, while “I Shouldn’t Go Anywhere” displays Johnson’s fluid form of Americana that emits organic song craft with much care. “Forgive Her”, a particularly great song, then unfolds with a very precise version of folk-pop that’s quite dreamy and instantly lovable.
Deeper yet, “What Would Jesus Do” brings some bluesy flavor to a fuller execution that benefits from Joe Pisapia’s finger acrobatics, and “Letting Go” exits the listen with piano balladry as Johnson’s eloquent delivery is so well done, it only makes sense that she’s been writing songs since the age of 8.
Johnson finds herself in a very unique position here, where her intimate and forthright indie-folk prowess is met with vibrant moments of pop melodica that’s suitable for the FM dial. Now a fully independent artist and steering her creative instincts with no outside influence, she’s making the best music of her career, and let’s hope there’s more on the horizon soon.
Travels well with: Chris Wilhelm- This Too Shall Pass; Lilly Winwood- Time Well Spent