Monument

***1/2

After their 4-track BLONDE (EP), that came out of nowhere last summer to redefine the female country-pop harmony approach, the expectations are sky high for siblings Kendra and Krista Slaubaugh’s full-length debut album as Tigirlily Gold. The girls go all-out and then some, an outburst of country-rock joy sprinkled throughout each track, whether it’s the near-perfect title song opener, the smoothly executed Leroy or their dynamic rendition of the Leona Lewis hit Bleeding Love, which closes this highly enjoyable ten-song set. Their penchant for boisterous, larger-than-life ideas is always at the fore with ripping guitar rock and showers of electronic programming droplets, tasteful pedal steel, clavinet, mandolin, banjo, Wurlitzer, resonator guitar, piano and keyboards, all weaving in and around the sisters’ powerful vocals. Less traditional than your classic country-pop duo, by bringing a gritty attitude and energy to their highly infectious songs. With their tight harmonies and willingness to experiment with tone and beat, Tigirlily transcend the limitations of the country music genre without losing sight of their rural roots.

The four songs from that original EP (see https://www.alancackett.com/tigirlily-gold-blonde-ep) are augmented by six news tracks, as the duo raid country roads of the past with a spirit of earnest discovery and casual sophistication, setting backbeats and bits of rock edges next to sublime programming and insidious singalong choruses. Writing from personal experience, I Tried A Ring On, is a break-up song with a difference. They are so deft at conjuring the head-over-heels feeling of plunging into a permanent relationship and the subsequent heartbreak, that they sometimes seem to be pinpointing the exact moment where one blurs into the other. It’s a song that will tear at the hearts of anyone who has dealt with the aftermath of being so close to walking down the aisle, all dressed up in a gorgeously melodic arrangement that is full of agonising pathos. In contrast, End Up Us, is the other side of the romantic coin. In this, it’s a happy ending from start to finish as they deliver a southern-funky-Tennessee kind of skins and strings groove overlaid with sensual harmonies. There’s a similar vibe to Only Once, an arm-waving romantic song that you can’t help swaying along to. This one swings into both country and soul territory, and Alex Kline gets kudos for his production and arrangement.

This album isn’t all slinky backdoor grooves. Songs like the recent hit, Shoot Tequila, has all the jump-around energy as one of today’s country’s best—practically built for singing along, extra loud. It’s a non-stop party tune and rather than build up to the full capacity of her voice, Kendra blasts it out of the gate and then Krista joins in on harmonies to reveal all of Tigirlily’s power and their gorgeous nuances, as they bring a murderously hard edge to melodic country. 

The combination is both deeply satisfying and divine. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll listen again and again … oh, and you’ll more than likely singalong loudly.

www.tigirlily.com

July 2024