Honey
Self-Released, 2023
8/10
A quintet fronted by Lily Vakili, these 9 new songs from Vakili Band brings soul, psychedelia and even punk spirited moments to this retro fueled 3rd album.
“Mapplethorpe” begins the listen with much emphasis on mood, where Ben St. Jack’s thick guitar helps create a haze of psyche-rock ideas amid the powerful singing from Vakili, and “Yves Calls Her Betty” follows with a rich and dense display of expressive songwriting that’s a bit tense, too.
In the middle, the intimate “To The Park” gets dreamy and uses Gordon Kuba’s diverse drumming superbly as the setting builds into an emotive rocker, while “Smeck” is a thumping and bluesy album highlight that showcases Joel Dorow’s spirited harmonica alongside Vakili’s soaring pipes.
Landing close to the end, “Pyro Luv Attack” opens with ambience before finding charged, buzzing areas to reside, as Matt Jovanis’ meticulous bass shines bright, and an extended version of the title track exits with a crisp and soulful climate that radiates timelessness.
It’s not hard to be reminded of names like Patti Smith, Grace Slick, or Grace Potter when listening to Honey, which could never be a bad thing, and each track here carries its own unique identity and is absorbed with a very even appeal.
Travels well with: Lauren Monroe- Messages For Aphrodite; Amy Jay- Awake Sleeper