Sarah Blacker & New England Groove Association
“Walkabout”
Americana or alternative rock? No idea what to call Sarah Blacker’s music exactly, but it sounds good to me, so who cares? With influences ranging from America, Paul Simon or CSNY and a wide musical background that she applies to “save the world, one song at a time”, there is a depth to her songs and delivery and that’s what counts.
Take this Walkabout single, for example, starting with a single acoustic guitar that could be coming from CSNY that sets the mood for Sarah’s vocals to rise and tell how she’s compelled to walk away and live all the lives she’s got in her pockets. When the drums/bass comes in for the chorus, with a sound that’s pretty much live, you can’t help but be taken all the way by Sarah’s soulful voice inflections. She’s singing her blues, insisting on that “I” die in a way that makes it true. A discreet Rhodes solo is rounding it all up during a bluesy instrumental part (punctuated by powerful vocal ad libs), and you can’t help but sway with the groove.
This one is a chant, a soulful plea for a better life, before you die, and you can’t help but be touched by the message when the music and voice is that compelling.
Verdict: 5/5 beards Great stuff!
You can buy this song on Bandcamp: https://sarahblacker.bandcamp.com/track/walkabout