Down To The Letter
Mpress, 2024
10/10
The sophomore release for now Nashville resident Grace Pettis on the MPress label, the songs here surround her somewhat recent divorce and rediscovering of self following betrayal, codependency and heartbreak.
The warm and soothing spirit of “Rain” starts the listen with Pettis’ expressive pipes and fluid guitar alongside Jordan Perlson’s agile drumming for the reflective Americana, and “Horses” follows with a calm demeanor of dreamy keys from Jon Estes, as the poetic singing unfolds with much grace.
Deeper into the listen, “I Take Care Of Me Now” builds into an upbeat version of folk-rock, where Pettis’ uplifting voice is met with crisp instrumentation, while “A Thousand Times A Day” welcomes Emily Scott Robinson’s elegant pipes to a hearfelt and minimal moment of tremendous beauty.
Further still, the hazy pedal steel of “Vivian” makes an impression amid the bright storytelling and rich instrumentation, and “When Nobody’s Watching” exits with Robby Hecht’s sophisticated voice and the cozy acoustic guitar making for an emotive and relatable finish.
Pettis has clearly been sorting through much self-examination in the past few years, and it results in a career high body of work where Mary Bragg’s contributions are substantial and add much to the cathartic experience that is both touching and inspiring.
Travels well with: Zoe Boekbinder- Wildflower; Alan Doyle- Welcome Home