If I Were Honest
Self-Released, 2022
8/10
A true renaissance woman, Angie Goeke is an author, a theater director, a school teacher, and a very compelling singer-songwriter as evidenced by these 10 unique Americana songs.
Goeke starts the listen with much intimacy, where the delicate singing of “So I Pray” suits the bare instrumentation perfectly, and “Leftovers” follows with bright piano to complement the jazz friendly atmosphere that’s quite charming and poetic.
At the halfway point, “Farewell” is a gorgeous and soft Americana moment that flows with much grace, while “Starlight” enters darker ideas amid the gentle guitar and moody bass.
Further down the line, “Fly Baby Fly” embraces folk ideas that illustrate Goeke’s rich song craft, and “Floored” exits the listen with a warm melody and subtle but effective drumming alongside the expressive and diverse singing
Goeke’s debut EP was just released in 2019, and with this album she’s quickly making a name for herself in the area of Texas Americana. Atmospheric, emotive and universally embraceable, If I Were Honest is all substance and no flash, and showcases an artist truly coming into their own.
Travels well with: Mary Bragg- Violets As Camouflage; Lynne Hanson- Ice Cream In November