The Southwest Sky And Other Dreams
Self-Released, 2020
9/10
Listen to The Southwest Sky And Other Dreams
The Virginia singer-songwriter Karen Jonas returns with another batch of well thought out stories, where her powerful vocals are more expressive than ever as her band of Tim Bray, Tom Hnatow, Seth Morrissey and Seth Brown contribute their respective talents.
“The Last Cowboy (At The Bowling Alley)” starts the album with Flamenco type guitar as Jonas lets her pretty, soaring vocals guide the country and Americana opening, and the waltz friendly “Out In Palm Tree Paradise” follows with a timeless, folk influenced setting of exceptional beauty.
At the halfway point, “Maybe You’d Hear Me Then” simmers with a soulful delivery where soft melodies align with moody pedal steel from Hnatow, while “Be Sweet To Me” moves and shakes with a rockabilly meets rock’n’roll feel that requires dancing shoes. “Farmer John”, one of the album’s best, then takes on a haunting quality with minimal instrumentation as Jonas lets her flawless vocals shine bright.
Late in the listen, “Better Days” flows with a breezy quality amid very mature, reflective song craft, and “Don’t Blink Honey” finishes off the record with warm Americana executed in her forthright, inimitable style.
This is the 5th album from Jonas, and like everything in her catalog, it’s a varied listen that flirts with blues and alt-country, too, as her sharp lyricism and top notch band offer one memorable song after another.
Travels well with: Siren Songs- Siren Songs; Jess Jocoy- Such A Long Way