New Orleans-based Alynda Segarra’s ninth album is a classy, intelligent emotional mix of country and folk, travelling in time and place reflecting on her youth, family, community, ups and downs, and life’s passing. It was recorded just after the death of her father, whose voicemails are included in the coda track, Kiko Forever. But before than touching farewell tribute there’s much to enjoy as Segarra is joined by guests including Anjimile, Conor Oberst, and S.G. Goodman, inflected with slide guitar, brass and other rich instrumentation. Segarra fled her aunt and uncle’s Bronx home as a queer teenager, and underwent a series of trying adventures, captured in Snake Plant. The excellent Hawkmoon reflects on a first ever meeting with trans woman. Another very strong number, Colossus of Roads is about the sacred and vulnerable spaces in the aftermath fo the Club Q shooting, its title referring to to the late oil pen Arkansas boxcar artist Buz Blurr, and also contains reference to poet Eileen Myles. Vetiver recounts chaotic romance and wisdom gained. Opener Alibi pays tribute to the suicidal and Ogallala recounts tales of tough itinerant teenage life, hiding from cops, jumping on trains, living on the breadline. Overall it’s a gorgeous, touching, bittersweet release with wonderfully mature, vivid songwriting and performance. Out on Nonesuch Records.
New to comment? It is quick and easy. You just need to login to Disqus once. All is explained in About/FAQs ...
Feel free to recommend more new albums and comment below. You can also use the contact page, or find more on social media: Song Bar Twitter, Song Bar Facebook. Song Bar YouTube, and Song Bar Instagram. Please subscribe, follow and share.
Song Bar is non-profit and is simply about sharing great music. We don’t do clickbait or advertisements. Please make any donation to help keep the Bar running: