Sara Jean Stevens – Lovesick – 4 Song EP
This showcase has the typical hints of country, folk, singer-songwriter explorations & rollicking roadhouse. So, while the genres are standard the application is where Sara Jean Stevens’ (vocals/acoustic guitar/piano) magic comes into play. This is a 4-song sophomore EP Lovesick (Drops Feb 14/Independent) from Chicago’s Ms. Stevens.
Some songs according to Sara are 20 years old & had to marinate. Nice. Even The Beatles did that with some of their songs (“One After 909”). Sara’s music is for loners, romantics & dreamers. Many of us are at least one of those types of people. But the trick is to write something compelling, original & creative & not sing about subjects that are redundant in their respective genres. A practice that continues in country music most specifically. If I were a country manager the last thing I’d want to promote is a singer wearing another cowboy hat who sings about horses, pick-up trucks & beer.
Sara fortunately, occupies a rich position in the musical clay that shaped performers & writers like Emmylou Harris & Joni Mitchell only she applies generous pinches of J.J. Cale. Maybe it’s her classical training that also makes those influences twist about in her showcase with a unique application.
Sara’s catchy “Swamp Angel Road” has clarity & circuitry. It has a balance of countrified pop that’s admirable. Not too much straw & not too much apple cider. Production-wise, on this track, her voice should be mixed more upfront. The blaring lead guitar seems to upstage her lyrics as she sings & unleashes its hot notes.
“Thaw” musically, has an almost Lucinda Williams-type reserve with a Shania Twain voice. In that essence Sara’s showcase works with some peculiarity, but well. The guitar’s biting & the drums are upbeat in a satisfying display. More laid back & far more pop-country flavored is the Gene Watson cover of “14 Carat Mind” which is reminiscent of the many melodic hits of Brenda Lee in the ’60s. What sets Sara apart from those early Lee songs are her guitars that chime & ring throughout. The drums are rudimentary & typical but clean. Sara sings well & has a good tone. But again — her voice is lost in the mix on this Watson song as the guitar & drums dominate.
The title track “Lovesick” is sublime & laid back with nice musical silkiness. I can hear Sara’s voice far better & this tune is natural for Sara’s expressive voice. More focus on production would shine a brighter light on Sara’s obvious gifts.
Musicians – Matt Patton (bass) & Taylor Hollingsworth (lead guitar), Jason Lucia (drums), Kell Kellum (pedal steel) & Saviour Sallah (organ).
CD color image courtesy of Chris Nightengale. CD @ Bandcamp + https://www.sarajeanstevens.com/
Video Premiere: https://americanahighways.org/2024/12/03/video-premiere-sara-jean-stevens-thaw/
