Singer-Songwriter

Grace Pettis: Grace Pettis

https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/GracePettis

This first outing for Grace Pettis is just great. I’m a sucker for a sad love song.  Her 'Dancing' and 'What You Didn’t Know' written at her age and experience give me hope that she will someday eclipse her father, Pierce, in my top 10 favorite song writers. These are fine songs from a brave, transparent young woman. She has a voice that reminds me

of Karla Bonoff or a young Linda Ronstadt.

When I listen to a collection of songs I try to listen for the same things, whether it is a 3 song demo, a 5 song EP, a nervously over abundant offering of 20+ songs or a well balanced cd of 12 cuts such as this. First, a quick passive listening while I’m doing something else to see if it draws my attention away from the primary chosen task, which this cd did. Second, an eyes closed, focused listen for the way it engages me (or not) emotionally or intellectually. I remained interested.

Musical collections can impress or fail for seemingly schizophrenic reasons, one can have songs from all sorts of genres (The Beatles ‘White Album’ ring a bell?), or a more close knit similar group of songs (Carol King Tapestry). The collection needs to work. You can have a pretty good cd of either sort but without stand out gems its just another “nice”cd.  Ok, Ok those are by most standards Lofty albums, but pretty good examples of my point. This leads to a big statement from a guy of my perspective. 'What You Didn’t Know' (yes I’m mentioning this song again) gets the “My Favorite Tear Jerker” song of the year award. And that’s no small order.

There are a variety of love and life songs on this collection, and not all are for everyone (or maybe just not yet). Life has had a funny way of telling me, that when I just can’t relate to something in someone else’s life expression, it's usually something I have forgotten or have yet to learn. When I am somewhere between Lucky and cognitive I remember these Gems and pass them on. [Larry Baumgartner]