Cactus
Self-Released, 2018
9/10
This sophomore album from the rising songstress Elise Davis has the artist delivering her most personal effort to date, where themes of independence, liberation and resilience flow through the well crafted and flawlessly executed tunes.
Davis starts the listen with “Hold Me Like A Gun”, where warm acoustic guitar and aching pedal steel align with her rich, expressive pipes guiding the textured folk tune, and “The Burn” follows with some pop melodies buried in her Americana template as strings add an orchestral slant.
in the middle, “Lone Wolf” delivers a bare setting of emotive balladry with strong wordplay, while “33” keeps the landscape soft and again with strings accompanying the confessional tone. “Last Laugh”, one of the album highlights, then brings much atmosphere into the cautious, agile exploration.
Near the end, “Moody Marilyn” is a slow burning affair of sublime beauty, and “Don’t Bring Me Flowers” ends the listen with a full display of ebullient, soaring melody in the lush exit.
Davis took inspiration from legends like Tom Petty and Aimee Mann during the 6 months of making Cactus, and it certainly shows in her timeless songwriting of alt-country meet folksy sensibilities that strike a cord immediately.
Travels well with: Neighbor Lady- Maybe Later; Ryan Culwell- Flatlands