11 song album
Led pianist/fiddler, Valerie Rachel and guitarist Greg Lawrence, their songs are full of harmony and emotion. While the lyrics and the sentiment can be raw, the songs lean towards reflective contemplation rather than angst. It makes for a delightful soundtrack, whether you are out for drinks on a wild Saturday night or out for coffee and bagels on a quiet Sunday morning. It also helps that Valerie’s voice reminds me a lot of Natalie Merchant, singer of 10,000 Maniacs and Greg’s voice has a timbre that reminds me of Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy. With the additional support of pros like Yoni Gordon on electric guitars, bassist Jose Downes, and percussionist, Jim St. Pierre, Wayward Vine’s sound sits comfortably between grit and melody, blending raw, lived-in vocals with instrumentation that feels both intentional and a little untamed. There’s an ease to the way they play together; nothing feels rushed or overly polished, but everything lands where it should. Wayward Vine doesn’t chase trends; they cultivate their own lane, and it makes their music feel genuine, grounded, and worth returning to. (Kier Byrnes)