Even though she is now 6 albums into her career as a solo artist "Marked For Death" will always be the bar her work is measured against. She did not try to meet it head-on with "On Dark Horses," and it worked wonderfully. She is taking another side step, which pays off on the opening track, then deviates into introspection from an even sharper angle on "God's Picture". What is so different, you ask? Well, she is using different vocal colors and bringing different instrumentation into the mix, with piano being a more focal point. In the past, she has had a more 90s alternative sound, whereas this album finds her not as dark as the other folk-rock sirens of the day, yet still bearing her signature sound amid the changes.
"Anvil" finds a strum can get the same things accomplished when it comes to the steamy grooves her music is prone to summon. She brings the emotion I want from her and keeps flexing her vocal cords, adding more nuanced colors as she blends her head register. She blends the strum of her acoustic with a more rock drive on "Catherine Wheel," which does not seem to be about the band. The more 90s feel is back on this one and elevates it to my favorite song so far; what can I say, I like what I like. I am going to guess that Gina Gleason is playing all the guitar solos.
There is a more subdued feel to the strum of "Don't Delay Heaven". It's more of a ballad, but needed to give dynamic range to the album and flows really well. Based on the lyrics, "Enough" is sort of the title track; it weaves with the melody in a manner not unlike what we like about her past work. It builds into a chaotic swell while the main theme of the song churns under it. "Human Kindness" wanders a bit, making it more about the mood it gathers to build into a soaring climax.
"Oceans of Time" finds Lukas Frank joining her as he layers his voice with hers, and Marissa Nadler also chimes in, making this album an intersection for all the Millennial Alternative sirens, as Chelsea Wolfe's drummer Jess also plays on this album, but it is more of an outro. Overall, I will round this one up to a 10 as she gets the done done and maintains her level of artistry; it is good to have her back in this context, now let's see how this album is going to grow on me. There is a little from all of her varied sides, though not big on the heaviness yet; there is a little of that here and there.Being released on her own imprint Errant Child Records.
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