Heidi Spencer - "Under Streetlight Glow" - ROCKSPOSURE.....Be Heard

Go to content

Main menu:

Heidi Spencer - "Under Streetlight Glow"

Articles > Articles & Reviews > 2011 Articles and Reviews

Album Review
Heidi Spencer & The Rare Birds - "Under Streetlight Glow"

By Joey Tayler

 

Its 1940 in my mind, sings Heidi Spencer on Under Streetlight Glow, the title track to her gorgeous third record.

As if being one of the most compelling singers Ive heard in a while isnt good enough, Spencer is also an astute critic of the music shes making with backing band the Rare Birds. Like Joanna Newsoms Have One on Me, Under Streetlight Glow is the kind of stately, pretty, singer-songwritery chamber music that stands out of time, an album youd be as likely to dig out of your parents vinyl crates as download off iTunes.

The gravely twang in Spencer
s voice is what grabs your attention; the different ways she bends that quiver on each track can be alluring (come-ons Alibi and Go to France) or downright heartbreaking (plaintive ballads Moth Met Spider and Tried and True). The Rare Birds -- mostly acoustic guitars, standing bass, an accordion or two, some choice piano keys -- ground Spencers songs in an almost classical austerity and sincere feeling. A few more overt Americana sounds, like the steel guitar sliding in and out of Hibernation, add nuanced grace notes and, perhaps, point towards what I imagine could be one hell of an alt-country album. Id love to hear what Spencer sounds like when her heart is a little less heavy -- that voice could crack a mean joke or wither a no-good man with sarcasm -- and what the Rare Birds would do given a little more room to let loose.

But then, I
d love to hear pretty much anything this band does next, starting with their July 30th show at Linnemans in Milwaukee.

 
 


Joey Tayler is the lead writer on Rocksposure.com. Based out of Milwaukee, WI, he is always looking for a new show to see. If there is something you think he should be listening to, send him an email at JoeyT@Rocksposure.com







 
 
 
 
Back to content | Back to main menu