Ashley Monroe - Sparrow (April 20, 2018) Album

1. "Orphan" (Ashley Monroe, Gordie Sampson, Paul Moak)
2. "Hard on a Heart" (Ashley Monroe, Blu Sanders, Paul Moak)
3. "Hands on You" (Ashley Monroe, Jon Randall)
4. "Mother's Daughter" (Ashley Monroe, Brendan Benson, Ryan Beaver)
5. "Rita" (Ashley Monroe, Nicole Galyon, Paul Moak)
6. "Wild Love" (Ashley Monroe, Waylon Payne, Brendan Benson)
7. "This Heaven" (Anderson East, Ashley Monroe, Aaron Raitiere)
8. "I'm Trying To" (Ashley Monroe, Kassi Ashton, Jon Randall)
9. "She Wakes Me Up (Rescue Me)" (Ashley Monroe, Waylon Payne, Paul Moak)
10. "Paying Attention" (Ashley Monroe, Waylon Payne, Brendan Benson)
11. "Daddy I Told You" (Ashley Monroe, Angaleena Presley, Josh O'Keefe)
12. "Keys to the Kingdom" (Ashley Monroe, Waylon Payne)

 

Not loving the songs we've heard so far--the newest one is my favorite--but I'm still pretty confident this will be great. Doubt it tops The Blade, though.

 

this is magnificent. if i weren’t only halfway through i’d call it her dusty in memphis

 

*completes first listen* album of the year

 

I thought it was a pretty substantial step down from The Blade on first listen, but I still liked it. I’m not sure Cobb’s production style totally complements her.

 

idk i think this is so much better than the blade

 

which is a great record!

 

but the production is right up my alley. the strings!!!

 

I thought the glossier production on The Blade suited her better. She’s someone who can really straddle that line between pop country and classic country, and that album showed it. This one leans away from the former, which is a little disappointing, imo. I also just don’t think the songs are as good though. There’s nothing here that even approaches the level of the title track from The Blade.

 

I’ve only listened twice, though, so these are early impressions.

 

"rita" def does i think

 

also i prefer like a rose to the blade so i'm guessing we got two different approaches to this artist

 

Disagree. A lot. But to each their own.

 

hot take: ashley monroe is good

 

I endorse this message.

 

particularly gorgeous songs on this record: "this heaven," "paying attention," "keys to the kingdom" (wow)

 

excited to hear this one

 

"paying attention" is so good it feels like a new standard

 

this just gets better and better. my album of the year

 

The harpsichord/keys/whatever lick in "She Wakes Me Up" is so great. That song and "Wild Love" are probably my favorites on here.