“Carper sounds so natural in each sonic corner of ‘Borned in Ya’ that trying to assign it a genre is a fool’s errand.” That’s No Depression’s take on the new solo album from Arkansas-connected crooner Melissa Carper, which came out today. It’s a sentiment that’s hard to disagree with.
The title track shows off a groovy, gospel-tinged and brass-punctuated side of Carper. Horns also appear on “Lucky Five,” but the context is jazzier. On the other end of the spectrum is a relaxed cover of Cole Porter’s “Every Time We Say Goodbye,” displaying Carper’s ability to casually stretch out notes until they wither away like smoke. Then, there’s “Your Furniture’s Too Nice,” which trades in mid-tempo swing, replete with whimsical whistles and wandering, improvisatory appearances by a fiddle, accordion and upright piano. Playfully bemoaning the challenges of living with someone who has expensive tastes, it contains some of the Carper’s funniest lines. “And my head just don’t feel right without a few louse,” she quips, making us wonder if her preference for a lived-in, rough-around-the-edges home might be a little more intense than we thought.
“Borned in Ya” is available wherever you stream, and can be purchased on vinyl and CD here.