Review Roundup 8/21: Mark Lipman, North Ingalls, Uncle Ellen
This week's review roundup highlights queer Laurel Canyon-style tunes, indie-cana (my term for indie rock and Americana), and late-in-life pride anthems.
There are so many great albums, and never enough time! In this feature, editor Rachel Cholst celebrates some of the best queer country EPs and albums you may have missed!
Mark Lipman – Mosaic Things
With Mosaic Things, Mark Lipman gifts us with a gently urgent collection of folk. The Boston-based singer-songwriter provides a swaggering Laurel Canyon take on love that never quite lands where you want it, too. "The Whittler" is a jaunty queer country anthem to flaky connections, while "Daddy Issues" is transcendent in its gossamer delicacy. By the time Lipman leaves us with the groovy "Vine," Mosiac Things has guided us through an emotional journey that leaves us appreciating the wide range of human experience.
North Ingalls – To Be Loved Back
Michiganders North Ingalls cruise through Americana and roots music genres on their masterful album To Be Loved Back. Whether it's the sweet, jazzy love song of "Short But Sweet" or the unspoken yearning of the title track, the septet ably carry us through all the triumphs and defeats of being in your twenties with sublime chemistry and musical panache. Singer Corazon Szell anchors the album with astonishing self-confidence, cementing this band as one to keep an eye on for sure – especially if you've been joining indie-cana crossover bands like MJ Lenderman, Wednesday, and Ratboys.
Emmyjean Jenkins + The Friction Quartet – Gay All This Time
Emmyjean Jenkins delivers us a trio of pride anthems with Gay All This Time. The Friction Quartet is a misnomer, though – these are smooth songs with chunky hooks that'll be replaying in your mind for a long time. Amidst the gentle grooves, though, you'll find some interesting textures – a pluck of fiddle strings in "Home To Me," an extra spice to the drum track on "See It to Believe It." These are songs about finding the person to travel down the high way, and Jenkins' rich voice gives that rare spark of finding the One all the gravitas it deserves.
