Read the Review at Take Effect

9/10

A renaissance woman with an impressive resume in and out of music, though Nashville’s Renee Wahl has spent plenty of time with physics, the Air Force and teaching, she’s also highly skilled at playing Americana music with the perfect balance of grit and gorgeousness.

The sophomore album starts with the dark and raw “Cut To The Bone”, which sets the tone for the remainder of the album, as “Cold Day In Memphis” gets closer to country sounds with spectacular singing, while “Me Before You” finds the songstress getting near indie-folk territory with brushed percussion and warm, ballad like melodies.

The middle of the album brings the lush, rustic, twang ideas of “Temptation”, the album highlight, “From Here To There”, which moves with an emotive spirit and beautiful interplay between the band, and one of Wahl’s most forthright tracks, “Meds”, which takes nods to classic country with somewhat humorous wordplay.

Wahl ends strong with the soulful and cautious “Six Days Til Sunday”, the introspective “In The Field” and she exits on the playful indie-rock influenced “What You Need”.

A very heartfelt, open and personal installment of tunes, Wahl’s in great company with her all star band, and the songs here unfold with much power, sincerity and an adventurous quality and will undoubtedly make this one of the year’s best records.

Travels well with: Rosanne Cash– The River & The Thread; Neko Case– Middle Cyclone