Gregory And The Hawk

The aptly named debut album from Meredith Godreau isn’t something to party about, more something to nap to. The lovely, folksy lullabies cradle luscious acoustic vibrations while her soft vocal chords navigate sweetly through each strum. Lyrically these songs could be stronger but the simplicity makes for effective mellow rock. Self-recorded in New York with a helping hand from Michael McGuire of Short Stories fame, the album sways along in a sultry fashion, staying away from tacky choruses, instead opting for something unique and personal. "Memory and Honesty” sounds like a song Emily Haines & the Soft Skeleton would write but with a more Feist-y delivery. The whispering violins in the background are excruciatingly beautiful. "Oats We Sow” tackles a trotting guitar tone akin to Iron & Wine, or Sufjan Stevens without his big orchestra. It’s amazing how all these elements blend together so effortlessly, only further proving that the buzz surrounding this bright young singer-songwriter is more of a reaction of awe than an overblown and over exaggerated media ploy.