Geoff Wilbur posted: " EP Review of Summerlyn Powers: The Hive Summerlyn Powers has a pure, emotional voice that's ideally suited to the short collection of mostly folk-leaning storytelling country songs on her new EP The Hive. However, she's an artist with a much broade"
Summerlyn Powers has a pure, emotional voice that's ideally suited to the short collection of mostly folk-leaning storytelling country songs on her new EP The Hive. However, she's an artist with a much broader musical palate to draw upon, as the variety on this 5-song EP showcases.
Indeed, there's plenty of variety on this record, including a more traditional country number, some acoustic, folky country numbers, and even a bluesy country rocker. Summerlyn's bio mentions influences ranging from Southern rockers like Lynyrd Skynyrd to '70s folk singer-songwriters like James Taylor – those influences and more are apparent on The Hive.
Though the entire disc is solid, well-written, and exceptionally performed, my favorites are the first two tracks, "The Hive" and "Always On My Mind." Then again, I tend to drift toward uptempo numbers, so your preferences may differ.
"The Hive" is a super-catchy, very original, uptempo, traditional country storytelling song. Well, it's not exactly a story, but whew, it energetically paints a picture. In parts, it recalls something Dolly Patron might have sung. Lyrically, the song directs the listener to a house for music and fun using landmarks like a beehive and a "beware of the bear" sign. But the song is more than just a series of helpful directions for when your map app loses signal; it's a rollicking good time!
The second song, "Always On My Mind" has a late '60s/early '70s folky rock flair with a little Beatles-y "Here Comes the Sun" vibe, particularly in the opening. Summerlyn churns through a lot of lyrics, probably moreso than the '70s folky pop-rock style the song conjures up with lyrics like "babe, you were crazy hard to find, but you were always on my mind." Well, "crazy hard to find" isn't a phrase you'd have heard in the '70s, but I suppose that just makes the song all the more original and intriguing.
"Healing Like I Am" brings the room down musically, with its soft tone and slower tempo, and it covers a topic that could easily also depress the room's mood. But it doesn't; it's a post-breakup song that's thoughtful and kind. The tune bops along pleasantly, and the sentiment is much warmer than the subject matter would typically indicate, pleasantly discussing the pain, the healing, and the path ahead.
"Nana and Papa's House" is a thoughtful, melancholic number that's both sad and pleasantly reminiscent about missing one's late grandparents. It's lyrically well-crafted and nostalgic, with accompanying sweet, soft music, though it's not so slow that it doesn't move. Indeed, there's a little more tempo than you might expect. It's a sweet, pleasant song that's likely to cause a few sniffles and tears in the audience, particularly if sung in an intimate setting. Or, you know, listening to the song on headphones by yourself... I'm not crying, you are!
The five-song collection ends with another change of pace for the diverse Ms. Powers; it's a bluesy country/Southern rocker! On "Let's Roll!" Summerlyn deploys a surprisingly gritty edge to her vocals, pulling off just the right delivery for this jammin', wailin' tune.
With the variety on this EP, Summerlyn Powers is definitely a young artist to watch, someone whose variety of musical influences will allow her to create interesting music that incorporates elements of a variety of genres. If she continues down her current path, she can build a rich and broad but cohesive musical catalog, appealing to a diverse fan base, perhaps centered within country music but extending well beyond.
Looking Ahead
The "Tour Dates" page of Summerlyn's website list shows in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama from this week through April, beginning and ending with Nashville shows on February 29th and April 29th. Check her website for details and circle back to remain aware of additional tour performances as they're added.
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