Broken Bow Records

*****

I’d like to describe Lainey Wilson’s debut album, SAYIN’ WHAT I’M THINKIN’ like a rocket ship—but I think a galloping horse might be more apt in this case. She canters from song to song, balancing humour and pain on a knife’s edge. The album jumps to life with the humorous Neon Diamonds a sure-footed toe-tapper that would be an otherwise clever outlaw country song—if it weren’t for the fact that sometimes life is stranger than fiction. With an earthy tone and something that feels both a little old and a little new, Lainey Wilson is one of country’s most intriguing new voices. She’s traditional country, spinning tales to guitar, mandolin, fiddle and banjo accompaniment. Her lively delivery frequently recalls that of Dolly Parton, Tanya Tucker, Lee Ann Womack, Gretchen Wilson and Patsy Cline in both passion and presentation. Knocking down the relevant touchstones from twangy rave-ups to melancholy mid-tempo ballads, her deep and varied musical influences not only inhabit her soul, they also shape her songwriting. The songs, all co-written by Lainey, cover a wide aesthetic, emotional, and musical spectrum. This gal has surpassed expectations with this release. In addition, her current trajectory seems replete with creative possibilities and options, an indication of vital work to come.

Born and raised in a small farming community near Baskin, Louisiana Lainey is a determined strong-willed and independent country gal. She arrived in Nashville around four years ago in a camper van that she called home as she did the rounds of writer nights, songwriter sessions and generally hassling the music business. It wasn’t too long before she started making an impression, initially penning songs recorded by others, then touring all across the States and even the UK and Europe opening shows for major acts including Josh Turner, Reba McEntire, Ashley McBryde and Randy Houser. With her swaggering personality, down-home vocal delivery and bell-bottom fashion attire it wasn’t too long before her sound was being described as ‘bell-bottom country.’ Signed to BBR and working with producer Jay Joyce, two years ago she released REDNECK HOLLYWOOD, a 4-track EP to critical acclaim.

Lainey’s ability to vary her template from the rousing to the reflective is equally assured, as indicated on the album’s standout ballads—the heartfelt Keeping Bars In Business, the tender Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’ and the admonishing Things A Man Oughta Know. Raw surely describes her yearning and her inspiration. She seems to relish the adversity and uncertainty as an opportunity to prove her mettle and WWDD shows she’s got what it takes. Short for ‘what would Dolly do?’ Lainey praises her idol and role model Dolly Parton as she delivers her sweet and sarcastic punches in the song’s sassy lines as the song stretches out with clangy guitars that act as a wall, a metaphysical barrier to all those life obstacles that Ms Parton would simply demolish with her larger-than-life personality. For LA she uses traditional Southern music as a base for a sneakily innovative and contemporary sound. The song is funky and optimistic, capturing the energy of a young person setting out on their own and enjoying all the freedom that entails. Like the visceral bayou landscape that inspires her, she knows when to let her vocals float across the song, light like a cypress tree, and when to, like the fiercest of Gulf Coast storms, unleash thunder and lightning with the studio band. Then there’s the earthy, sensuous-drenched passion of Dirty Looks, a tune that extols the ecstasy of meeting her man in a bar straight from work. Ignoring the looks of bystanders, she openly shows her delight to the guy still in his work overalls. The song gives her control of things, even if they’re just words and music and for three minutes, there’s no uncertainty, just an earnest sense of communication between one person and another totally oblivious to all others. It's strongly felt, unceasingly surprising and just a whole lot of sexy fun.

Ultimately, Lainey Wilson seems most comfortable on those songs where she can be proud of the adversity she’s faced, rather than mourning the harm others have caused her. Still, this is no one-dimensional girl as she nurtures her subject, showing us the strength and resilience of a gutsy woman with a sense of rousing revelry that rings through, equally affecting up-tempo tunes. Awesome voice, great lyrics, this is an artist who is going to be around for a long time and you can take that prophetic thought to the bank.

www.laineywilson.com

February 2021