Shell Of A Girl
Hen House, 2019
9/10
Though it wasn’t too long ago that Sunny War was a homeless punk, these days the songstress is seeing worldwide acclaim, sponsorship endorsements and stability, thanks to her thriving career as an articulate, topical and moving songwriter who hits a career high with her sophomore album, Shell Of A Girl.
“Shell” starts the listen elegant and warm with a bluesy, cultured tune where War’s expressive vocals shine, and “Where The Lost Get Found” follows with a touching acoustic guitar fueled folk song where harmonica adds much to the atmosphere.
In the middle, “Love Became Pain” shuffles with a playful pace to the frisky picking and emotive delivery, while “Off The Cliff” flows with pretty instrumentation in a display of cautious songwriting that touches on Latin influences. The album highlight, “Soul Tramp”, is indeed soulful, and brings to mind the delicate atmosphere that Elliott Smith could create.
Deep in the listen, “Got No Ride” unfolds with a confessional spirit as soft percussion and harmonica punctuate the mood, and “XO” finishes the listen with soft keys on a sparse yet powerful exit of hushed beauty.
Now in her late 20’s, War is still very much evolving as a musician and human, and this effort touches on many of the darker sides of the status quo with a lyrically upfront delivery that musically borrows from folk, blues, country and rock, yet with a biting edge leftover from her punk years.
A truly exceptional artist, Sunny War has the potential to become one of the most important songwriters of this generation, or at least this record is a step in that general direction.
Travels well with: Birds Of Chicago- Love In Wartime;Ida Mae- Chasing Lights