Reviews:: Meredith Luce Neck of the Woods

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In today’s world, it’s hard to remain positive and upbeat. The older we get and the more we see, the more we have to process. Singing through a smile starts to feel forced, and after listening to Meredith Luce’s new record – Neck of the Woods – you can’t help but wonder what she’s had to deal with in the last couple of years. Even on a casual listen you notice the songs are filled with storms, death and alienation and her outlook has dramatically changed.

Her last record – October – was laced with childlike whimsy, optimism and warmth. Although she moved freely from her trusty acoustic to an electric, the songs seemed to push you back to better times or make you think that love could conquer all and things were going to be ok. On Neck of the Woods, her voice seems hardened and the guitar work a bit more muscular; a bit more real. Instead of a nostalgic state, the songs deliver a much needed reality check. Even when she finds a pleasant groove (like the infectious Lawnmower Dogs), the tracks are more rollicking than anything from the last record, and as a result they make more of an impact.

On October, Luce seemed to want to escape back to times when things made sense; back to the security of her old treehouse and innocence of youth but as Neck of the Woods unfolds, you see it's not as easy as it once was (on April Showers she almost seems to be trying to convince herself by repeating she will be good). She feels the claustrophobia of the city and society closing in on her and she needs to get out of here… now. The swirling textures Danny Michel adds to the turbulent Great Lake Swimmers makes you feel like you like it’s only a matter of time before the boat (in this case, our country) capsizes. You want to think Luce believes we can make it, but only a few songs later she admits:

“We won’t float when the ship goes down.”

And sometimes a dark, confessional record like Neck of the Woods is too much for repeat listens, but what makes this record work is how Luce delivers the news without making you feel depressed. Whether it’s her effortless vocals or the subtle contribution from her band (like the perfect hand claps that lighten the tone of Pennies in the Well), Meredith comes off more like that friend we all need to break the bad news than she does a pessimist. Her gentle touch and steadying hand makes hearing the bad news easier to hear.

Neck of the Woods isn’t a summery album from a folk singer sitting on a stool, as her fingers gently pick standard chords. These songs don’t dance around a coffee shop or Tuesday night in a smoke filled bar and the certainly don’t try to put on a smile and convince you things are going to be ok. No, Luce tried that and sadly, found out that most times the best of intentions only lead to bigger disappointment. Neck of the Woods might just be the dose of reality folk fans need and might force us to want to make a change. At the very least, Luce makes us all feel like we aren't the only ones carrying around a huge weight.