BY LESLEY HASTINGS
Having already established herself as a force to be reckoned with both as a songwriter and vocalist with her previous releases (including her EP “The Aftermath” which is about to celebrate its first birthday) Carter Faith has delivered an absolute stunner of a debut album in “Cherry Valley”, out today Friday 3rd October via MCA.
Working with her long time producer Tofer Brown the fifteen tracks have been a labour of love over several years, all of which Carter has co-written in collaboration with some of music city’s biggest names including Jessi Alexander, Shane McAnally, Aaron Raitere, Jessie Jo Dillon, Ashley Monroe and Lauren Hungate. I love the variety in the arrangements with the resulting sound walking the line (is there a pun there?) between the classic country music Carter was listening to when growing up in North Carolina and which she cleverly references lyrically in places and the more contemporary sounds coming out of her now-hometown of Nashville.
The album documents the highs and lows of her time in music city in chronological order and as such is deeply personal (we learn a lot about Carter along the way which I love…..the second track, for example, leaves us in no doubt from the start that she’s up for a good time!) but her astute observations and storytelling will no doubt resonate somewhere along the way with the listener too. There’s witty (occasionally irreverent!) lyrics, poignancy and soul searching, colourful characters ……in fact everything that I look for in a country album. Think Brandy Clark’s “12 Stories” meets Ashley McBryde’s “Lindeville” with a large dose of Tammy and Patsy thrown into the mix and you’ll get the drift!
As already mentioned the album tracks are arranged chronologically so to really appreciate “Cherry Valley” to its full extent it needs listening to top to bottom, and the drama that is to come unfolds from the very start with the cinematic, orchestral arrangement of the title track as Carter invites us to an imaginary place that signifies her creative home and whose name comes from a road sign she once saw. You can’t help but be blown away immediately by those goosebump – inducing, soaring and silky vocals on this dreamy track , and throughout the album one thing that stood out to me is the sheer versatility and range of her voice which never falters.
As the album progresses I particularly love how there’s little groupings of songs which thematically and sonically belong together (more about those later) but that doesn’t mean that the album is devoid of tracks which are impactful as stand alone songs. Indeed those released in advance have already demonstrated that, including the insanely catchy, sassy and amusing tracks “Bar Star” and “Grudge“. And “If I Had Never Lost My Mind” has introduced us to the deeper thinking side of Carter as she looks back and regrets her erratic behaviour which always seems to destroy her relationships ….. ” ’cause who wants a girl who’s a little deranged?“. It’s another incredibly dramatic track, like the opener, with sweeping strings a stand out feature in the arrangement which I just get totally lost in! In fact it sits in the middle of a trio of slower, pensive songs which sees Carter mulling over and trying to make sense of a break up (one of those groupings I mentioned earlier), a section of the album I find myself drawn back to and I hope these three songs (and the four which close the album, see below) don’t get totally overshadowed by the more “commercial” ones.
Talking of which I have to single out “Betty“, such a brilliant character – lead write with great word play around the name . It really jumped out at me on first listen and when I subsequently got the writing credits through I wasn’t surprised to see Shane McAnally’s involvement. Is Betty the same woman who inspired the following track, the aforementioned mentioned “Grudge“, who knows, but this is a superb pairing of tracks for those who love the fun, upbeat side of Carter and I can only imagine how these go down when performed live!
Further down the track listing comes another two songs which sit together thematically. “Drink Up Baby” and “Memory” are both “you can’t move on and forget me that easily”, inspired songs addressed to an ex, the first tells how “every beer leads you back to me” after a night out on the town, while the second is possibly my favourite on the album at the moment. In particular I love its explosive high energy chorus which comes as quite a surprise after the slow, lilting verse and the many great lyrics throughout this ridiculously wordy song including “He can burn my lipstick kissed love letters even my Waylon Jennings records …..but there ain’t enough gasoline to burn my memory “. I feel exhausted just listening to this one!!
Tempo and mood change again immediately on the following group of four closing songs alluded to earlier as Carter’s pensive side returns, and what simply incredible and thought provoking songs they all are. “Sails” really gave me Kacey Musgraves “Rainbow” vibes ….it’ll all be alright in the end, take control of the things in life you can change while accepting there’s some you can’t. “So I Sing” is an ode to the country music that keeps Carter going through all the tough times…..”Tammy is still the way I feel” she tells us. “Changed” is just the most beautiful love song with a difference, a slow waltz that is an appreciation of a dying love that didn’t last but has made her a better person because of the experience….”Nothing is in vain, we didn’t last for ever but I’m for ever changed”. Which leads to the haunting album closer, “Still A Lover“, and what a big reveal this fabulous ballad turns out to be. Carter admits she’s put up walls in the past (“only let ’em in if I knew they were leaving town“) but finally someone has come along to change how she approaches relationships, as she says someone she wants to stick around long term if she’s lucky. They have reminded her “I’m still a lover at heart”. What a change from the Carter we were introduced to in “Sex, Drugs & Country Music” and throughout the album.
I love how it is two equally dramatic, cinematic tracks that bookend this incredible album, which is a bold, creative debut from an artist who is putting her own stamp on the current country music scene while honouring the traditions which have gone before.
Album link here https://carterfaith.lnk.to/cherryvalley
More artist information at https://www.carterfaith.com/
Cherry Valley track list:
1. Cherry Valley
2. Sex, Drugs, and Country Music
3. Arrows (Die For That Man)
4. Bar Star
5. Betty
6. Grudge
7. Six-String
8. If I Had Never Lost My Mind…
9. Misery Loves Company
10. Drink Up, Baby
11. Burn My Memory
12. Sails
13. So I Sing
14. Changed
15. Still A Lover