I had the good fortune of discovering Jennifer Alvarado’s music earlier this year, so I was very excited to discover her new EP, Songbird: Part One. It’s a cracking EP and it was well worth the wait, building upon my previous listening experience with her music.
By Jane Howkins
We actually reviewed opener Rock This Way back in June, and it still sounds fantastic! A chugging rock and roll riff starts the music up, before Jennifer’s vocals appear, drifting through the music in style. The particular stand out point for me was the higher vocals, showing another side to Jennifer’s vocals. It’s got a classic rock sound, harking back to the glory days of rock and roll.
Curious is a little softer, opening with a pretty acoustic guitar melody, although it’s not an entirely acoustic track. This allows Jennifer’s vocals to truly stand out – they sound absolutely beautiful on the chorus, with some gorgeous backing vocals sounding almost like a choir in the background. It all makes for a nice change of pace.
Something’s Up is a more up-tempo track, bringing the electric guitars back to Jennifer’s sound. The guitars have a flowing sound in the background, raising the tension up alongside the beat. The song has quite a melancholic sound and the lyrics build on that, with the chorus having a climactic reach. This was one of my favourite songs on the EP.
Filthy Water starts with a low guitar melody, before Jennifer’s soulful vocals appear. The beat changes slightly here, going from a steady drum beat to a slightly faster rhythm, building up towards the epic chorus, where the vocals soar. It’s got quite a bluesy vibe, adding another string to Jennifer’s musical bow.
Questions is another more stripped-down track, based on the acoustic guitar. The guitar has a rhythmic quality, fitting the quiet percussion well, elevating the vocals to a high status. The backing vocals arrive quietly, serving to provide a nice backbone to the lead vocals, before the electric guitars appear.
By This Time Next Year has a slow and melancholic vibe, acting as a ballad of sorts. You can really feel the emotion in Jennifer’s vocals as she sings along to the sad guitar melody that underpins this song. It breaks down towards the end with a slight acoustic guitar solo, before the main melody appears again, bringing the track to a satisfying close.
Jennifer Alvarado is an artist that I’ve watched bloom over the past few months, with Songbird: Part One being the culmination of all her efforts. I can’t wait to hear the next part of this EP sequence!
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