While some bands focus on their musical talents and throw extremely deep lyrics to the wayside, Annie And The Beekepers seem to focus strongly on both. Singer Annie Lynch treats her lyrics like she would her own life, as important as they could be. Pair them with her beautiful indie voice reminiscent of Zooey Deschanel (She & Him) and Neko Case (The New Pornographers), and you’ve got a fresh folk rock group.
The opener, “Wake Up Mama” is haunting, but the bursts of instruments bring it to life. Lynch sings with confidence and strength, backing her lyrics with emotion. You feel every word that she sings without knowing the story behind them. The second song, “It Ain’t Fair” has a heavy folk vibe with a trumpet and swooning harmonies. “My Bonneville” is a lively adventure with fun keyboards and a tambourine.
“A Light At The End” is slower, but the album doesn’t lose its momentum. The track is nestled perfectly between two somewhat somber tracks. With the gentle acoustic guitar and Annie’s raw vocals, they are uplifting but haunting at the same time. The mellow chirps of crickets in the night accompanied by an acoustic guitar open up “In The Water.” You can feel a blues and folk influence in this Southern sounding banjo tune.
The CD could do without the ninth track, “Losing Game.” It feels like the wrong time and place for another slow jam. Even so, the closing installment, “Come On” is full of wonder and beauty. Echoing swoons fill the air as Lynch calls out “You may never come to me, you may never come to me/ Come on, come on.” The flugelhorn and trumpet add dimension. With touches of elegance and flowing harmonies, this song brings the album to a peaceful close, giving listeners the need to start all over again. My Bonneville is the perfect combination of indie, rock, blues, and folk—never isolating itself into one genre. Fans all over can embrace this diverse and inviting album, no matter what they’re into.
In A Word: Lovely
