Any Kind Of Angel
Pretty Okay, 2020
9/10
A New England native who now resides in Austin, Texas, this 4th album from the sublime songstress Jenny Reynolds has her in great company as Jaimee Harris, Scrappy Jud Newcomb, Warren Hood, BettySoo, Jennifer Jackson and Nate Rowe are all on hand to flesh out these organic and thoughtful gems.
“There Is A Road” starts the listen with intricate acoustic guitar as soft and expressive vocals from Reynolds and glowing harmonies from her contributors are immediately gripping in the folk and Americana landscape, and the title track follows with flowing melodies that are nothing short of captivating as Hood’s fiddle prowess adds much to the formula.
At the halfway point, “The Trouble I’m In” brings in some rootsy flavor as Reynolds display incredible depth in the gospel influenced tune, while “The Way We Say Goodbye” recruits strings for an orchestral angle to the gorgeous singer-songwriter template. ‘Love And Gasoline”, an album highlight, then finds a darker place to reside where pop ideas are present, as is fantastic guitar work from Reynolds.
Near the end, “Before I Know You’re Gone” finds an introspective place to reside, where a heartfelt delivery tugs on the heartstrings, and “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” finishes out the listen with a gorgeous interpretation of the classic that is so well done it alone is worth the price of admission.
Reynolds tosses in some minor jazz and blues moments here, as well as Spanish guitar, and her self-described formula of a three-way love child between Gillian Welch, John Mayer and James Taylor is quite accurate, only it actually sounds better than you might expect, which basically means that if your musical interests rest anywhere near folk and Americana, you’re going to be floored.
Travels well with: Rachael Sage- Character; Teghan Devon- Little Lion