Review Roundup: Soren Song, Diane King, Jeremy Dion
This week's review roundup features hard-won wisdom from Soren Song, Diane King's quintessential country album Sky, and Jeremy Dion's goofy-earnest kids' album Another Perfect Day.
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!
Soren Song – Honestly
It doesn't get more intimate than Soren Song and a piano. On Honestly, they dig deep into their sadness to explore – and accept – it. But there's comfort here. Song's world-weary voice has the warmth of heard-won wisdom, and the Carole King-esque piano hooks give these songs a certain pep. Honestly is an invitation to allow yourself to feel all of it: the good, the bad, and especially the ugly – because acceptance is how we transcend.
Diane King – Sky
There is something refreshingly old-school about Diane King's Sky. If you miss the storytelling of '90s country and the crunchy riffs of '80s rock, Sky is very much your jam. Whether it's a ballad or a rocker, King soars. In large part, that's due to a wisdom and warmth embedded in her voice. These narratives of loss and love – especially a love that lasts – are the kinds of storytelling that country music simply does best, and King is one of its best ambassadors.
Jeremy Dion – Another Perfect Day
Jeremy Dion excels at distilling simple truths into song. Creating a kids' album was an obvious next step – though I'd argue they share important lessons for adults, too. Some of the songs might be a bit one-note for anyone old enough to use a steak knife, but others like "Kind-Hearted Love" will melt away your exterior while you laugh at a pretty cute fart joke. More importantly, the album's delicate instrumentation is destined to bring us a new generation of folk and Americana fans.
