I had the great fortune of receiving this wonderful little EP from Boston-based singer-songwriter, Alley Stoetzel. Alley released her debut EP back in September 2012 with help from some of the best bluegrass musicians in the Northeast. If you're looking for some great music from an up-and-coming artist, this album will satisfy that need and then some.
The six-track EP consists of four cover tunes and two originals, and they blend together perfectly. The song selection for those covers is square in Alley's wheelhouse. Opening up with a mandolin-heavy version of "Cocaine Blues", a tune made famous by Johnny Cash on his historic "Johnny Cash at San Quentin" album. It's a ballsy selection to kick off the album, and Alley and her crew rise to the occasion with a raucous version of this classic.
The next track is the beautiful "How Much I Need You", an original song that explores the uncertainty that can exist when starting a new relationship. Alley's soulful vocal really shines through on this selection, really highlighting the vulnerability of the lead character. A song such as this comes from someone who has lived through it, which allows for the listener to relate to the story.
The third track is another original, "It's Always You", which in some ways could be the sequel to its predecessory, "How Much I Need You." The song is the perfect complement as it seemingly continues the story as the two characters have progressed in their relationship, verging on falling in love. Given the quality of the songwriting from Ms. Stoetzel on these two tracks, it is to be hoped that she includes more originals on her next release, whether that's a full length album or another EP.
The album then ventures back in to cover-territory, and the selection here is brilliant with its variance. For a young lady who is only 27 to tackle two icons in the history of music with Hank Williams, Sr. and Lefty Frizzell, to then close off with Rhianna takes some serious guts and confidence. Ms. Stoetzel pulls these off in spades.
While not much more can be said of the lyrics of the Hank Sr. classic "Lovesick Blues," the rockabilly treatment of this song that Ms. Stoetzel and her companions gives it a fresh outlook that I've not heard before. It's a great little cover they should be proud of.
Next up is a cover of one of my favourite old songs, "Long Black Veil." Written by the legendary Marijohn Wilkin and Danny Dill, this song has been recorded hundreds, if not thousands of times. When a song has been recorded that often, sometimes it's best to stick close to the original, which is what you'll get on this album. The key here is the wonderful mandolin playing of Jimmy Ryan, combined with Alley's beautiful, understated vocal that tells the haunting story in riveting fashion.
The most unique cover of the album is the most unusual choice, but it fits in perfectly, with Rhianna's "Man Down." Performed acousticly, with nothing more than mandolin, acoustic guitar and piano, this album allows Ms. Stoetzel to showcase her vocal range and styling. The musicianship and powerful vocals highlight how dark this song really is. It's a departure from Rhianna's version, but is still very, very effective in it's delivery.
This album is a brilliant debut from an artist that is clearly dedicated to her chosen profession and will only go in one direction. I'm sure you can surmise which direction I believe she will be going. We have not heard the last from Alley Stoetzel. In the meantime, check out her website where you can stream the album, learn more about Alley, get in touch with her and find out where she's playing. We can look forward to many big things from this young lady out of Boston.
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