It All Goes Up
Black Mesa, 2023
9/10
The St. Louis singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Beth Bombara knows her way around a roots rocks tune you won’t soon forget, and these 10 new tunes welcome some esteemed guests to the equation.
“Moment” wastes no time making an impression with Bombara’s pretty, heartfelt voice amid Samuel Gregg’s glowing pedal steel, and “Lonely Walls” follows with Mike Schurk’s cautious drumming alongside the expressive singing in the emotive climate.
“Get On” arrives in the middle and carries a lush intimacy that welcomes Eric Henry’s cozy pedal steel and Karl Kling’s spirited 12 string guitar, while “Carry The Weight” emits retro folk ideas that parallel the greatness of Linda Ronstadt or Joni Mitchell.
Residing near the end, the playfully rhythmic “What You Wanna Hear” is quite fluid, and “Fade” exits with the always impressive John Calvin Abney on Rhodes piano and electric guitar for the poetic, eloquent finish.
Bombara’s craft may remind you of legends like Aimee Mann or Jewel, and though these songs were written during a rough 2 years with the world in disarray, they exhibit much positivity in her uplifting and very memorable version of Americana.
Travels well with: Maia Sharp- Mercy Rising; Nicki Bluhm- Avondale Drive