Album Review: Aubrie Sellers - "New City Blues"

The second-generation talent showcases that she's as talented a writer as she is a vocalist.

Editor's Note: This album was re-issued with two new tracks September 30, 2016 via Atlantic Records/Warner Music Nashville.

It's rare to find an artist so fully aware of who they are when they release a debut album yet that's exactly where we find Aubrie Sellers with her debut album New City Blues. Working with producer Frank Liddell, Aubrey creates what she calls Garage Country, a modern blend of country storytelling with amplified rock-like guitars.

Pre-release single "Loveless Rolling Stone" sits at track 12 out of 14 on New City Blues and it finds her singing about herself, someone who knows she has a gypsy soul, someone where heart and home are always on the go. The distorted guitars help build an air of drama to the loneliness-soaked lyrics. Opener "Light Of Day" has some seemingly random guitar chords intro the album but while some may dislike the 45 seconds of seeming random tones, it really helps build up the drama for what is the sturdy track once the cascading drums and Aubrie's vocals kick in. It's a dramatic track. "People Talking" is a strong dose of pointed songwriting which bears the line where the album's title comes from.

"Paper Doll" could probably be played on alternative rock stations and playlists as it blends a bit of surf rock to the garage atmosphere. In all reality, the same could be said for "Magazines" if not for Aubrie's natural southern twang. The track "Liar Liar," which is co-written with Jessie Jo Dillon and Brandy Clark, might be the most mainstream country radio ready track, if mainstream country radio would actually play more than three or four solo female vocalists at a time. There are two strong self-penned tracks on New City Blues, "Losing Ground," and " "Humming Song," both songs which showcase her sturdy singer/songwriter vibe and two of the most quietest (and also most traditional country-leaning) moments on the record. They feel like breezy melodic blasts from the past while lyrically introspective. The bonus tracks featured on the Atlantic release of New City Blues are two choice covers of iconic songs in an intimate studio setting. Her cover of The Beach Boys "In My Room" is splendid as is her take on The Zombie's "The Way I Feel Inside."

Everything about New City Blues puts Aubrie Sellers in the same kind of musical class as the aforementioned Brandy Clark along with Ashley Monroe, Kacey Musgraves and Angsleena Presley. All are talented singer/songwriters working on the fringes of mainstream (country) music and making a place for themselves and hopefully the mainstream will have to take notice of this revolution of talent and just play great songs. And New City Blues is a record chock full of great songs.

[caption id="attachment_38898" align="aligncenter" width="610"]AubrieSellers2015 Photo Credit: Allister Ann/Atlantic Records/Warner Music Nashville[/caption]

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