Vocal of Note
Any notion of gratuitous sales-pitch innuendo in the album
cover is quickly dispelled when opening track The Graves delivers its authentic country blues, acoustic guitar
and banjo deftly played along with fiddle fetches all laying down a strong backdrop
to Boggs’ clear vocal. The slow reverb on guitar of next Emily provides a slowed landscape for Boggs to again sing along
with such a simple but potent clarity: there are no affectations, inflections
or melodramas – the cheats of those with less raw talent – and emotion is
conveyed in her full tone.
Title song Empty
Glasses reveals its metaphor as a woman’s struggle to survive the drain on
her in a relationship where she is the giver. There is a country lilt in the
vocal that again seems entirely natural, and this is accompanied simply with
male harmony for depth rather than prettiness. Fifth song Ready to Run once more resonates its experience, slide guitar
drenching with its held notes, and Boggs is this time matched with female vocal
harmony to carry the melody across this emotive musical underlay. Sixth The Storms Are On The Ocean is a country
lullaby, sweetly sung over acoustic guitar, more harmony as a pretty
complement. I’ve read a review of this album that invokes Emmylou, and whilst
this is almost an instinctive comparison for any singing of such quality, it is
not misplaced. Eighth All to Myself
is as fine a vocal as that from Bonnie Raitt, the mention meant entirely to praise
and commend.
This is an excellent album played by fine musicians and led
by the distinctive, matured voice of Reagan Boggs.
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