Without a doubt, the most exciting thing that's happened to me on this hot summer afternoon is the fact that I've finally got round to writing the review for the phenomenally brilliant 'Goodbye Yesterday' by the equally phenomenally brilliant Amber Rhodes! From the second the first few notes of Burn brought the studio CD player back to life, to the last remaining seconds of Return Again when everything that existed in black and white was transformed to a blaze of colour, my sense of appreciation for this superb artist has tripled beyond numbers I dare not attempt to count.
With a squadron of incredibly talented musicans and exacting production guiding the music toward every conceivable musical horizon, it's hard to slot this album into the confines of 'country' when it's touched upon realms of contemporary and alternative pop as well as skipping by the edges of contemporary folk and bluegrass. Either way.. Goodbye Yesterday is a far superior release to many that have made lots of bucks in similar genres over the past thirty or so years!
Burn is the real eye opener of an opening track with some spectaculr guitar and keyboard work supporting some very innovative and truly outstanding vocals. The arragement and production are amazingly inventive, with bright and sharp separation courtesy of some expert engineering... you feel like your right in the heart of the studio before you realise your almost right at the heart of the stage! What a brilliant song this would be for a live event with a couple of hundred thousand people baring witness!
Next we have the stunning So long goodbye - a composition that deserves to be listed as one of the top twenty best country songs of the year. Amber's songwriting is naturally the work of a true lyricist that really does enjoy what she's writing long before the rest of the instruments are added! Your heart or mine follows with some beautiful piano work introducing the rich and emotive vocal where the lyrical emphasis provokes just about every thought you've ever had in examining a relatinship in retrospect. Brilliant Amber... a song to be treasured!
Leave it up to you is so frighteningly musically accomplished, the first word out of my mouth began with a capital F!!! Watch out for the very fine harmonies and intricately played fretwork in an arrangement that deserves very loud applause if only to prove that Amber Rhodes is by far one of the most inventive artists in her corner of the music realm. Another thrilling aspect of this album is heightened in the highly emotive Goodnight lullabye.. taking the magical and unforgettable moments of motherhood from that first infant embrace to the final embrace in loss and goodbye makes the water cascade from your eyes to the point where you realise Miss Rhodes managed to steal a tear without you even noticing! It's a beautifully crafted and performed song that further confirms Amber's unique resilience to anyting static.
Goodbye yesterday brings back more excerpts of excellence and innovation from these very very fine musicians who seem to be working completely synchronized with Amber's intentions for this wonderful track. I can imagine the band having a real fine time on this one!
Sadly and almost cruelly, we're at the point where the only thing left to do is press REPLAY but not before the final track has graced the lasers! Return again is a superb track to end on and again we're in the presence of the lady and her piano with determined passion and decisively brilliant lyrics. The vocals as always are superbly delivered but you should try this one with headphones... those harmonies are stunning!
This album has been such an absolute joy to review. Amber Rhodes is my favourite female country recording artist and performer over any other right now. Her music is bright, intelligent, and immensely commercial and that could quite probably be because her heart and soul are evident all over this remarkable album.
