With the country music industry evolving, smaller record labels like Black River Music Group are around to find and foster young singer/songwriters like Sarah Darling.  Signed to the label in 2008, Darling is an interesting 25 year-old artist will invariably be compared to Taylor Swift with her similar singing style (check out “I Never Do What I Should”) and songwriting that often focuses on relationships and how Darling used her songwriting to get over a hard break-up.  While Darling has a similar voice to Swift, she really has a stronger and ‘more country’ vocal that is never more evident than on “Stop The Bleeding” and first single “Jack of Hearts” (click to watch). 

If a criticism can be levied against’ “Every Monday Morning” it’s that the production isn’t what’s typically popular in Nashville nowadays nor is the songwriting (aside from the topics).  Actually, that kind of criticism would be unfair because as far as mainstream country music, there should be more ‘risk takers’ like Darling and her producer/label head Jimmy Nichols.  “Don’t Love Me,” written by Darling with Brad Crisler and Marty Dodson, is a smoky and bluesy country rock song that never feels bombastic but rather smolders with a funky groove that backs up Darling’s solid vocal.  “Blue Guitar” is interesting in that it recalls classic Tammy Wynette torch ballads of yesterday (while sounding completely modern). 

“Jack Of Hearts” was written with hit makers Marc Beeson and Don Pfrimmer and it was the obvious radio single from the record as it ‘fits’ more of what radio’s playing.  That being said, It’s not exactly overproduced.  “Knowing What I Know About Heaven” could’ve been dubbed and overdubbed somemore into a Martina McBrdie-like power ballad but fortunately Jimmy Nichols doesn’t go there and instead lets the lyrics do the work as Darling sings about how having faith in Heaven above can help one ‘let’ someone go.  “Til The Truth Comes In” has a sweet soft melody which feels more traditional than most of what is heard on the radio. 

“Every Monday Morning” may not have an obvious hit single but Sarah Darling’s 13 track-long debut album is a sight to behold in the sense that it truly feels like the work of an artist firmly working at the top of her game.  In the hands of some producers out there, this record might’ve felt like every other record but, thankfully, Jimmy Nichols didn’t succumb to such temptations as he helped Darling craft this record. 

You can support Sarah Darling by purchasing this album at iTunes | Amazon.