Album Review: Hummingbird by Carly Pearce
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Carly Pearce's album Hummingbird, is a bright spot for contemporary country music. In this episode, I discuss how she blends storytelling, musical arrangements, bluegrass roots, and touches of humor, resulting in a mainstream masterpiece. Tune in to discover why this album is a must-listen!
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Hummingbird from Carly Pearce is a country album we should all be talking about! There have been so many great albums released in 2024 and this is a must-listen for me. No matter what era of country music you prefer, you will without a doubt appreciate this collection of songs.
First off, Carly co-wrote 13 of the 14 songs on this album. It’s also her first venture into producing - Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne produced it alongside her.
We’ve seen a resurgence of 90s country - there are a lot of artists that are singing or maybe even rapping about 90s country. Or they’re trying to re-create the ‘90s fashion aesthetic or name drop their favorite artists…but Carly Pearce has taken everything she grew up learning and loving from ‘90s and 2000s country - especially the leading female artists - and she blends it into her own sound. That’s the key - be yourself. Be unique.
And I’m probably drawn to this album so much, because that’s the music I grew up on. What may have been considered a filler song on an album 20-30 years ago, would be songwriting gold these days. And after listening to Hummingbird, that’s what I realize I am constantly seeking. Just start-to-finish albums that are packed with stories, stellar songwriting, and interesting musical arrangements.
Albums like Born To Fly by Sara Evans, Lee Ann Womack’s I Hope You Dance or Some Things I Know, Forget About it From Alison Krauss - those were all staples in my collection and they all encompassed those traditional country elements, but with a style that brought something new to country music.
And I respect that the musical arrangements on this album were treated just as importantly as the vocals and songwriting. You have a group of very accomplished musicians. I love the bluegrass style incorporated in several tracks. And a Jenee Flenor fiddle solo is always an added bonus!
Another thing I really love is the dash of humor added to some of these songs. The clever play-on-words from “Heels Over Head” or “Fault Line” is well done. Comedic songs have long been a part of country music’s history - but these songs on her album aren’t over the top, or like something you would roll your eyes at.
Carly’s previous album 29: Written In Stone was an album that elevated her career. I can’t imagine the pressure of following something that was so successful - she scored Grammy’s, ACMS, and took home one of country music’s most prestigious honors, Female Vocalist of the Year. Not only the pressure to achieve the same level of commercial and critical success, but to write and record songs that showcase your musical growth and she certainly demonstrates that growth with these songs.
The best thing about country music is that we have so many artists who have such a unique musical sound. The downside with success, is that there are others who want to emulate whatever is trendy. And if it’s true to them, good for them. But what I see with Carly Pearce is that country music is instilled in her, and that’s what you are going to get.
Marketing teams are in full force to form an image that is going to captivate fans. With social media, it’s all about the brand, too. And it’s all about what artists and brands you can you team up with to achieve crossover success to appeal to a wider audience.
You can have all of that…but at the end of the day, you have to be true to yourself. And that’s what you get with Carly Pearce. You can feel that from listening to this album. And to be honest, I don’t feel a lot when I listen to the majority of mainstream albums these days, maybe a handful of songs, but this one I do. It’s one that keeps you intrigued all the way through. And it proves that there’s an art to making albums, that it requires a vision and talent and Carly Pearce nailed it with Hummingbird. This is an album that makes me feel like country music is in good hands - Carly serves as a flame carrier - she wants to sing the real life story songs with the steel guitar, dobro, and fiddle sounds, she wants to step into the circle at the Grand Ole Opry, she knows the importance of honoring the traditions while carving out her own style, and because of that - she is a prime example of what country music needs.
Go check this album out - there are so many highlights from the vulnerable “My Place,” the harmonies of “Still Blue” to the beautiful closing title track.
If you have listened to it - let me know your favorite songs from it! And don’t forget you catch my syndicated radio show Across The Country with Amanda each and every week where I keep you updated with the latest country music news and the best of today’s country!