Daughter
Self-Released, 2021
8/10
The New England songstress Grace Morrison has a lengthy history in the music industry, but it’s usually been just to the side of the spotlight. A backing singer for legends like Eddie Money and Joey Molland, here Morrison is front and center, and she’s got a handful of original tunes that embrace country rock and pop in very articulate and timeless ways.
The title track starts the listen with Morrison’s smooth and expressive pipes being complemented with some minor twang in a pop friendly sort of way, and this easily enjoyable formula continues to the warm and emotive “Lone Star”, as well as “Alice”, where Teddy Matthews contributes his soulful pipes to the mature climate.
In the middle, “Small Town Lament” flows with a breezy quality that’s full of cautious, rootsy melodies, while “Sloppy” makes sublime use of pedal steel thanks to Lloyd Maines amid Morrison’s diverse pipes and a memorableness that could make her a household name. “Just Loving You” then brings Matthews back for a pretty, dreamy album highlight that’s also pedal steel friendly.
“The Edge Of I Am” and “Mothers” exits the listen, where the former offers a bare, acoustic strummer and the latter finishes with a soothing duet of graceful charm and very well thought out songwriting.
Along with the aforementioned musicians, Jon Evans contributes bass and Matthias Bossi plays drums. Morrison holds down the bulk of the instruments, and her eloquent and insightful self-examination and strong attention to detail makes Daughter an absolute must for those with an ear for country-pop sounds.
Travels well with: Anya Hinkle- Eden And Her Borderlands; Ana Egge- Between Us