Visions
Alice Howe
Reviewed by Montana Sullivan
Alice Howe’s new album Visions is dedicated to her father, and that love and affection comes through in the songwriting and instrumentation – it’s quaint, idyllic, and has a very nostalgic feel in spurts. The organ at the beginning of “Still On My Mind” does wonders to pain a picture, and the calm, folk-esque guitar serenades tracks like “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright”. There are other influences on the production as well; “You Just Never Know” is traditional country to a T, and “Getaway Car” has heavy blues influences, down to the horn arrangements that serve as a fantastic change of pace.
The songwriting is a treat, too. A majority of the songs on the album were cowritten by Howe her producer/bassist/collaborator Freebo, and no rhyme in the songs feels forced, all of the lyrics flowing together nicely. The real heart of the album, however, is Howe’s voice. It’s soothing, with a delightful Southern intone and a vibrato that brings out the emotion of the songwriting. “What We Got Is Gold” is a vocal standout that really drives home the affection that her voice has, and the rest of the songs on the album show her diversity – she handles a blues rocker just as easily as she handles a classic country ballad just as easily as she handles a sad love soliloquy.
The only complaints that I would have with the album are subtle nitpicks that I had to seek out, such as the chorus of “Lovin’ In My Baby’s Eyes” being repetitive (which isn’t inherently a bad thing, per say). This is a wonderful effort from Alice Howe and well worth a listen, especially if you’re a fan of a beautiful voice.
