Terra Lightfoot's rockabilly sound is distinct, and Consider the Speed, her fourth full-length album, makes no left turns.
"Called Out Your Name" opens the project with an unapologetic aplomb that sets the scene for an emotionally testing, but fun, country-rock road trip. The lively "Paper Thin Walls" is reminiscent of a darker "No Hurry," and is the sort of single you can expect from Lightfoot — chock-full of sunny guitar riffs, crashing drums, but with the raw lyrics of a relationship on the edge. Lightfoot dips even further into heaviness on "Empty House," where the artist bemoans her dependency and loss of identity during a partnership: "When you're gone, I'm up for rent / I am an empty house again / When you're gone, I've got nothing left."
While the album is familiar in all the ways that make Lightfoot's Americana sound so loveable, there's a sense of familiarity at the centre of Consider the Speed. "Love You So," "Midnight Choir," and "Ramblin' Rose" act as a form of sonic déjà vu, and they disappear amongst the raging guitars and roaring vocals on the piece's stronger tracks. Country-rock clichés make unfortunate appearances — imagery rife with pickup trucks, wild horses and long drives down deserted roads. Although flawless production and Lightfoot's effervescent vocal performances keep the tracks enjoyable, the laundry list of overworked themes get tiresome after the first listen. However, Lightfoot makes up for it by crafting honest and relatable stories about love and loss.
Thanks to Lightfoot's songwriting strengths, Consider the Speed stands as the most emotionally developed project from the Hamilton singer-songwriter so far.
(Sonic Unyon)"Called Out Your Name" opens the project with an unapologetic aplomb that sets the scene for an emotionally testing, but fun, country-rock road trip. The lively "Paper Thin Walls" is reminiscent of a darker "No Hurry," and is the sort of single you can expect from Lightfoot — chock-full of sunny guitar riffs, crashing drums, but with the raw lyrics of a relationship on the edge. Lightfoot dips even further into heaviness on "Empty House," where the artist bemoans her dependency and loss of identity during a partnership: "When you're gone, I'm up for rent / I am an empty house again / When you're gone, I've got nothing left."
While the album is familiar in all the ways that make Lightfoot's Americana sound so loveable, there's a sense of familiarity at the centre of Consider the Speed. "Love You So," "Midnight Choir," and "Ramblin' Rose" act as a form of sonic déjà vu, and they disappear amongst the raging guitars and roaring vocals on the piece's stronger tracks. Country-rock clichés make unfortunate appearances — imagery rife with pickup trucks, wild horses and long drives down deserted roads. Although flawless production and Lightfoot's effervescent vocal performances keep the tracks enjoyable, the laundry list of overworked themes get tiresome after the first listen. However, Lightfoot makes up for it by crafting honest and relatable stories about love and loss.
Thanks to Lightfoot's songwriting strengths, Consider the Speed stands as the most emotionally developed project from the Hamilton singer-songwriter so far.