BY LESLEY HASTINGS
Fiddle, lap steel, mandolin, dobro, honest lyrics delivered with the passion we have come to expect from the multi-award winning Kentucky native … yes, on the opening track of “Hummingbird“ Carly Pearce leaves us in no doubt in every respect about her commitment to the genre that has shaped her life . “Country Music Made Me Do It“ sets the tone perfectly for what is to come on this new project, in which she tells about finally being able to move on after the pain and anguish of her “29” era, the tiny bird which inspired the title track being seen as a healer and bringer of love, good luck and joy in Native American culture.
But healing is never a straightforward process, and this is reflected throughout the fourteen tracks, all bar one co-written by Carly, who co-produces for the first time alongside Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne. While the overall tone of the album is understandably much lighter and upbeat than its predecessor there’s still moments of reflection and self doubt, so be prepared for your emotions to be all over the place. Hold on to your (cowboy) hats and enjoy the ride.
The tracks made available ahead of release day had already prepared me to some extent for what was in store.
Of course there’s the incredible CMA and Grammy nominated ballad “We Don’t Fight Anymore“ featuring Chris Stapleton which can’t fail to move as they sing about a relationship which has lost any type of spark. I’d choked on my morning coffee the first time I listened to “Heels Over Head” (yeah, the imagery and that pause in particular!) and then there was the emotionally charged “My Place“ which tore my heart out the first time I heard it, which was actually an acoustic rendition at a London showcase with Carly just a few feet away. Incidentally it is also an example of the clever word play that is evident on several other tracks including “Fault Line“ which is already a modern day classic in my opinion. Yes, lyrically as well as sonically this album is a stunner (I must mention in particular the phenomenal fiddle playing of Jenee Fleenor which features so prominently).
But that emotional rollercoaster was taken to a new level when I heard the album in its entirety, and as with all my favourite songwriters Carly has once again demonstrated her ability to write from a deeply personal place yet still come up with songs which are relatable to the listener. There is definitely something for whatever stage of the healing process you may be going through.
Want a feisty revenge song? Look no further than track 2, “Truck On Fire” which was an immediate ear worm for me. Sorry there’s no prizes for guessing what form the revenge took after Carly discovered her ex was putting ”his lips on her “ when he was supposed to be working late.
Looking for an empowering song that is a middle finger to an ex’s ego? That’s the following track, “Still Blue” which is far from the melancholy lament the title led me to expect but a celebration of moving on with a new partner “who ain’t seeing anybody else”. Oh and as an aside, I wonder if there’s any sponsorship deals on offer from Goodyear Tyres or Levi jeans as an upshot of these two tracks … you’ll hopefully get what I mean when you hear them!
Need reassurance that it’s not only you who feels trepidation about leaving a relationship despite knowing it was the right decision? The cinematic “Oklahoma” is the track for you. With appropriately cinematic production it describes Carly driving away but being haunted by her ex’s face in every car she sees and reminded of him by every song on the radio. “I may be in Oklahoma, but I’m not OK“ she admits. Yes, more of that brilliant word play I praised earlier.
“Pretty Please”, delivered with perfect vocal delicacy, is for anyone whose confidence is left in tatters after a break up. What a stunner of a ballad as Carly pleads for reassurance after she summons the courage to go out bars again . “Tell me I’m fun, could be the one, you’ve only dreamed of a woman like me”. Jenee’s fiddle playing cuts through the accompaniment and adds even more atmosphere to this beautiful waltz.
We all love a happy ending, and if you’re at that stage in the healing process the penultimate track “Trust Issues” is your song! This gentle ballad is about finding that someone you know immediately is right for you and most importantly rebuilding shattered confidence when it comes to relationships. “Ain’t it crazy now to ever think I ever had trust issues? In a matter of one kiss you got me turning one night into maybe the rest of my life“. How lovely for Carly to be able to write lines like this again, the only issue she has to deal with now being missing her new partner whenever they are apart. It’s not the over sentimental song it could easily have become though.
There’s so many tracks I haven’t mentioned here … and it’s not because I have something to say about them all … just briefly, “Rock Paper Scissors“ is a title that caught my eye immediately I saw the track listing and I was really intrigued to see how that would be turned into a song, I hope you love it as much as I do! “Woman To Woman“ is a fun warning to the “next girl” I guess it would be appropriate to call her on her ex’s conquest list … Ok, I’ll stop now I promise, go and listen to the album for yourselves!
But obviously I can’t not write an album review without a mention of the title track . “Hummingbird“ closes this project, an ethereal, almost spiritual song that is so very different in many respects from anything we have heard from Carly before . I think it’s appropriate to finish this review with a quote from my recent interview with her when I asked her to explain why she’d described it as the “ most unapologetically Carly song I’ve ever written” …. this was her reply ….
“It feels like it’s own little thing … that kind of Celtic sound, mountain sound …. and it’s very poetic. It’s funny, even my band members say “we don’t know what you’re talking about but we love it”! But I think it’s just my artistic take, taking my influences especially from the Alison Krauss/Nickel Creek background and making it into part of my commercial release . It was just my little moment to be exactly what I feel like is my strength“.
And what a fabulous “little moment” at the end of a fabulous album.
“Hummingbird” Track Listing
- “country music made me do it” | Written by Carly Pearce, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
- “truck on fire” | Written by Carly Pearce, Justin Ebach, Charles Kelley
- “still blue” | Written by Carly Pearce, Natalie Hemby, Josh Osborne
- “heels over head” | Written by Carly Pearce, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
- “we don’t fight anymore” featuring Chris Stapleton | Written by Carly Pearce, Pete Good, Shane McAnally
- “rock paper scissors” | Written by Carly Pearce, Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds
- “oklahoma” | Written by Carly Pearce, Nicolle Galyon, Shane McAnally, Jordan Reynolds
- “my place” | Written by Carly Pearce, Lauren Hungate, Jordan Reynolds
- “things I don’t chase” | Written by Robyn Dell’Unto, Kat Higgins, Ava Supplesa
- “woman to woman” | Written by Carly Pearce, Tofer Brown, Lauren Hungate
- “fault line” | Written by Carly Pearce, Nicolle Galyon, Shane McAnally, Jordan Reynolds
- “pretty please” | Written by Carly Pearce, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
- “trust issues” | Written by Carly Pearce, Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds
- “hummingbird” | Written by Carly Pearce, Nicolle Galyon, Shane McAnally, Jordan Reynolds