Ashley Monroe - Like a Rose POLL

"Bombshell" are the duds imo.

the goddamn hell

and the chorus melody of "from time to time" is gorgeous

I'm going to wait to hear this until I have the record in my hand. The only new records I ever buy these days are women country singers. Was Bandy Clark's 12 Stories released on record? I wish that Angaleena Presley's 'American Middle Class' had been released on record.

i hope the vinyl is a decent pressing. i'll probably buy this on CD first, though. 'like a rose' has yet to leave heavy rotation in my car cd player.

the two pistol annies albums are both on vinyl. i should buy those.

"From Time to Time" and "Bombshell" are the duds imo.

no no NO these are not duds!

yes yes yes!

They are so not duds---"Bombshell" is where she shifts from an initial impression of a tendency to stasis---where you get it all, and maybe get hooked, in the first verse and chorus, then stick around, to increasingly, if vaguely, diminishing returns, as the mind starts to wander---shifts to a more dynamic, moody yet sufficiently gravitational speculation: drop it on him now? How, "It's never a good time for a bombshell," but she's still checking her options...haven't heard a song about this situation, so in that respect, as well as the actual sound, I make a mental note for my future mix, The Great Lost Pistol Annies Album.
"From Time To Time" (like several on here)might be another one for the same destination, although in this case, the multiple Monroes have more of a post-Beatles/Fleetwood Mac/Dixie Chickc/Courtyard Hounds/multiple solo Maines/Mona Lisa: real friendly and slightly exotic (which is a friendly warning not to take friendliness for granted).
Despite her turning the pages in the stylebook--without trying to hide it---this set is more emotionally and/or sensually involving than Like A Rose.
Her debut, Satisfied, is also engaging---it's uneven, but the best tracks, written when she was a teen and maybe even a tween, are adolescent adventures in the best sense.

Stasis creeps back in on "If The Devil Don't Want Me," maybe some of the other second-half tracks too, but they (and the better ones nearby) are still strong enough to keep me hangin' around, if not on.

"bombshell" is a great concept executed really well, dow nails it. and it fits in really well with the overarching themes.

"from time to time" i find really powerful, as much for what's not in the song (that i've heard yet) as what's in it...there are secrets and darknesses beneath its tenderness. and as brad says it's just a straight-up gorgeous melody.

Despite her turning the pages in the stylebook--without trying to hide it---this set is more emotionally and/or sensually involving than Like A Rose.

agree with this too; it builds on like a rose so well, takes its strengths and fleshes them out, pushes them in multiple unexpected directions

And again, with the Pistol Annies-associated knack for fresh topics: considering that your love was (def past tense) "heaven," then, if the devil don't want her, where can she go? Purgatory? Celibacy? Just everyday numbnuts office bus station cafeteria reality? It's a good question, long as she can keep asking it, and putting off the answers.

http://www.spin.com/2015/07/review-ashley-monroe-the-blade/

i'm seeing her live tonight at an NPR first listen show; looking forward to it obviously

hope it doesn't bury your love alive

i'm planning on catching it by the handle.

http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/20813-the-blade/

not sure ilxors will like the content of that review, but nice that p4k has reviewed another not too alt-y album favourably

Alfred's review is a lot more fun to read because it doesn't waste time justifying/indiesplaining the genre

Like so many country albums, especially recent ones by Monroe's friend and bandmate Miranda Lambert, The Blade could be stronger if it was more streamlined and sequenced with some kind of overarching narrative in mind

haha yeah that sentence is not great

amazing how the integrity of the album must be preserved and nurtured at all times

and that this album lacks a narrative

Now Sgt. Pepper's, there's proper narrative for you

dammit should've done Now that's what I call music pun...

I take it as a break-up album, purt' near. Maybe with a few relatively mellow memories, but basically, she's moved/moving on (Tex in her rear-view mirror, fair amount of distance already). Not cold, but details are more in the music than the lyrics (no gory)

But also, it's past time for the country Sgt. Pepper's! "He blew his mind out in a truck..."

or if it's Miranda Lambert it's "I blew his brains in a truck."

it was 20 years ago today / mutt lange taught the band to play

xp blew out, or just blew bc depending on the lambert song could be either tbh

i mean the lyric of "bombshell" is incredible on its own

embodying all of the scenarios in which one could possibly deliver bad news, none of which manage to soften it

"bombshell" is fantastic. everything about it.

it'll never be a good time

album confirms my theory that she was the best of the class of 2013

album confirms my theory that she is the center of gravity for "nashville," the tv show. they've used a bunch of her songs but, jesus, every song on this album is perfect for one character or another. it helps, of course, that breaking up is every "nashville" character's favorite activity.

New album is now on Spotify.

OK fine I like "Bombshell."

amazing how the integrity of the album must be preserved and nurtured at all times

I get the sarcasm, but I also think as long as acts keep releasing collections of songs presented as albums, I will keep listening to them as such. Tbh, I really wish bands and acts of all ilk would resume releasing stand-alone singles that aren't just trailers for the record. It would shake things up nicely and give acts something to promote between major release cycles.

here's the show i went to last week; well worth a watch
http://www.npr.org/event/music/427418193/watch-ashley-monroe-perform-live-in-concert

plus the accompanying ann powers interview
http://www.npr.org/event/music/427418621/i-love-the-truth-ashley-monroe-in-conversation

this is a goddamn great album

listening to it + events of recent months combined to incite some serious albeit cathartic ugly crying this morning, yeesh

this might be my favorite album of the year. "if love was fair" and the title track just floor me. seeing her in october

When you live in a big city, waiting for country acts to play in the city limits must be what it's like for someone in middle of nowhere Alabama waiting for Yo La Tengo or something.

She just played the Historic 6th & I Synagogue in Washington DC tonight (where she is not getting much country radio support). Good but short show. Emphasis on the new album (and her voice seemed stronger on those cuts live) but also a Pistol Annies song, and cuts from her other efforts. Sadly, no "If Love Was Fair."

Sadly, no "If Love Was Fair."

I know!! My favorite song on the album and she skipped it. Great show otherwise

saw her in nyc. really nice show. encored with "games people play."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C47v_6B5h60

still one of the albums of the year

Yes. X-post--She did the same encore in DC. Her introduction for "On to Something Good" was something like "Here's one of my few positive songs," while later for another song she specifically noted how Miranda Lambert had a hit with "my song, but it wasn't me doing it." But she didn't come across as negative; just humble and self-deprecating and these are the facts. Nice story about Guy Clark and the writing of "Like a Rose," friendly comments about walking around Washington D.C.

The 1200 or so seat room was not full, but there was a sizable crowd. I also had an extra ticket I could not unload. She is not getting lots of country radio play (and this weeknight gig was in downtown DC not in the burbs where mega-arena shed country shows take place), and it seems that folks I know into alt-country also are not interested or something. She also doesn't have that crossover aspect that Kacey Musgraves has.

yes, she introduced a song as one she had tried hard to sell to radio with limited results. "but that's ok, to you guys it's a hit!" i also wondered wonder if she's gearing up for the americana marketplace. i notice she guested on don henley's recent austin city limits appearance along with trisha yearwood, martina mcbride, etc.

Seems like they are trying to market her to the Americana audience now. She seems willing to guest with lots of folks-- gets her name out there. Henley lately; previously Train; years back Jack White & Raconteurs; Wanda Jackson. Nashville tv show too, I think was mentioned upthread.

i think every one of my favourite artists this year has been rejected by radio