Annie Stokes – Ghostwriter
Produced by Austin Bello (electric & acoustic guitar/keys/percussion/co-writer) Ghostwriter (Drops April 4/Ponygirl Records/27:17) provides 8 tracks recorded in Bristow, VA that explore themes of grief, belonging, permanence, double standards, validation from past friends & friendship (as the press release details). Despite the dark hues, the music is solid & enriched by its Americana tradition.
The well-recorded showcase has lots of personality in the way Annie’s music projects out of the speakers. She has an appealing vocal style that exudes energy, enthusiasm & confidence, especially with the opening tune “Country Wife.” The locomotive drums drives all the musicians to equal heights of adrenaline cruising creativity. Annie sings with the purest of motives.
The heavier “Twice As High” & its inspired delivery has a welcome aggression affixed to every verse. Annie’s arrangements on her material ensure a potent spray of instrumentality. There are times her voice is a little juvenile, but that’s part of the charm. At no time does she sound childish. The tune “The Tarot Reader’s House” has a pleasant banjo mindful of the applications made by The Strawbs’ Dave Cousins to songs by England’s Mary Hopkin (“Those Were The Days,” “Goodbye”), who has the same attractive vocal manner as Annie.
Annie & her musicians have finely integrated Americana-roots-old English traditions & bluegrass strains throughout their pastoral/rural shadings. Lyrically, there is little in the way of cliches & the plaintive melodies all have a substantial, memorable sound. The varied instruments that are introduced are used liberally & color each song in a well-nurtured style. It’s not rock n’ roll balladry or folk in the Sandy Denny (Fairport Convention) manner – but it does possess a focused identity that suits Ms. Stokes’ vocal prowess.
Commercially, the piece called “Twenty-Three” has the necessary confection to grab mainstream ears & modern-day country fans. The guitars are a wall-of-sound in the Rocky Burnette style (“Tired of Toein’ the Line”). The entire production is penetrating, driving & has relevance. The last time I heard a female vocal this intense & catchy was Kelly Pickler’s “Red High Heels.”
The most country-oriented number is “Open Secret,” which has its Emmylou Harris/Alison Krauss flavors running through its weave. A little trendy but quite tastefully executed. Too many hard R’s in some lyrics (danger & stranger) that should be smoothed over into “dange-uh” & “strange-uh” to make the vocals more melodic. Like holding notes on a vowel.
Paul McCartney even sang his classic “Yesterday” as yesta-day. Not yester-day. Other than that, the song itself is expressive & catchy. Annie’s a pleasure to listen to. Has confidence without attitude. Tasty all around – so listeners should dig in & ask for seconds.
Highlights – “Country Wife,” “Twice As High,” “The Tarot Reader’s House,” “Twenty-Three,” “Ghostwriter,” & “Open Secret.”
Musicians – Annie Stokes (vocals/acoustic guitar/banjo/writer), Will Berger (bass & acoustic guitars/co-writer) & Marty Garfield-Levine (fiddle).
Image courtesy of Meno Mosso. CD at Soundcloud + https://anniestokesmusic.com/home
Song Premiere: https://americanahighways.org/2025/01/07/song-premiere-annie-stokes-open-secret/
