Editor's Picks 9/11: Josaleigh Pollett, Stephanie Smittle, Pearl Does Country
Every week, Rainbow Rodeo editor Rachel Cholst picks the three best queer country albums of the week. This week features telepathic soundscapes, Southern chamber pop, and trans-atlantic country.
Josaleigh Pollett – If I Let It Quiet
While If I Let it Quiet stretches the boundaries of "country" it is certainly "queer." Josaleigh Pollett creates breathtaking soundscapes while guiding us through the stormy seas of identity in a world that seeks to pressure us into conformity. "Radio Player"'s dreamy guitar might be the most accessible for folk and country fans, but the richness in songs like "Bed of Quiet" and "Repeating" can't be overstated. Pollett uses music to transport us into her internal life, with a warmth and desire to connect that never lets it get too overwhelming. Instead, perhaps, we can use art like this to build bridges.
Stephanie Smittle – Passiontide
Stephanie Smittle gives reviews the patriarchy and gives it two thumbs down on Passiontide. Part country, part opera, part chamber pop, and 100% enchanting craftsmanship, Smittle gives us something entirely original. Smittle's voice is simply outstanding, at times a clarion call (absolutely crystaline in "Sixteenths and Thirty-Seconds") and at others sassy and world weary (see the ragtime-inspired "Haven't Met Mine.") Passiontide is unlike anything else you'll hear this year, and it stands out in a crowded field of fantastic music precisely for its clarity of purpose and commitment to letting a song breathe.
Pearl Does Country – Pearl Does Country
British country singer shows off his stuff on Pearl Does Country. The five-song collection is a delightful exploration of pop country through a transatlantic lens. Of course, we've got songs of love that would be better off left alone, the comforts of alcohol, and partying. While some of the rhyme schemes feel a bit rough around the edges, there's no question of Pearl's ability to sell a song by belting a note or delivering just the right vibrato in an emotional moment. This self-titled EP is a strong start, and I look forward to seeing what Pearl makes as he gains more experience.
