Petticoat, Petticoat--Every Mother's Child

The ethereal green grass and bundle of flowers in the guitar on the album cover describe Petticoat, Petticoat’s sound better than any words could. Coming out of Lexington, Kentucky, the five-sometimes-six-piece’s debut laces bright bouncy guitar work around simple-yet-sweet vocals that create an ambient sound that dances just out of reach of any effective description. That being said, I’ll try.

The opening track "It’s So Easy" could not be a better prep for what the listener is about to get. "The easiest songs are the most beautiful," sings vocalist Kristin Messina. Many of the songs are like this, lyrically simple, straightforward, and not surprisingly sweet (many of them come from love letters). Other songs, such as "Love In An Alley," deal with family troubles, and still others are influenced by their hometown Lexington. While much of this could come off as cheesy or sappy, it holds water as well and perks an interest, such as "Crosshair," ("I’ll be the crosshair to your gun") a metaphor-filled message of trust and guidance.

Instrumentally the album is modest, using blues instruments such as a harmonica and pedal steel to create a moving bright beat that’s best displayed in "We’re Gonna Be Poor." Petticoat, Petticoat shows maturity by keeping their instrumentals bouncy yet soft, creatively pulling them all back at times to display the lyrics, or adding a quick and impressive guitar solo. By not overdoing anything the album retains a comfortable balance that’s the perfect complement to the similarly styled lyrics.

Petticoat, Petticoat impressively shows off its singer/songwriter might in their debut album, keeping their music almost as pure as the bright green grass. Further growth in future albums should get you hearing Petticoat’s name more and more.

(Published at ComfortComes.com)