The Grey Album
Hummin’bird, 2025
9/10
The veteran artist and Grammy winner and Emmy nominee Grey DeLisle returns with a double album of thoughtful songwriting that surrounds love gone awry, raising children when divorced, and her Mexican heritage.
DeLisle’s gorgeous voice and Greg Leisz’s inviting steel guitar open “Hello I’m Lonesome” with much attention to detail, and a bit further along “A Coastal Town” invites Tammy Rogers’ violin and viola to the emotional and soft climate.
Deeper into the first half, the spoken word, autoharp and poetic singing of “Daddy Can You Fix A Broken Heart” offers a flawless delivery, while “Convince Me” is a sparse moment of sophistication and intimacy, where DeLisle’s enchanting voice won’t go unnoticed.
Bookending the record are “Take Me Dancing Again” and “Red Dress”. The former recruits David Ralicke’s strategic trumpet and the latter enlists Murry Hammond’s (Old 97’s) rich acoustic guitar and Etzion’s charming mandolins for the pretty finish.
DeLisle might best be known for her work on The Simpsons as Martin, Scooby-Doo as Daphne and Spongebob Squarepants as Preda Tory and Big Roxie, but this 7th studio record illustrates her exceptional singing that draws parallels to Loretta Lynn, June Carter Cash or Dolly Parton.
Travels well with: Ron Pope- American Man, American Music; Effie Zilch- Multitudes