Pondering the loss of innocence, rise of awareness and acceptance over 12 songs and 45 minutes, Lissie demonstrates resilience in the wake of California/stardom’s illusionary appeal.
Lissie’s voice in its lower register sounds husky and vulnerable – but when she lets rip on huge choruses, such as those of Hero and Wild West, it’s quite a fearsome instrument.
My Wild West finds Lissie experimenting but still within the confines of her slick pop writing. It's an album made by an artist who is still top of her game.
The melancholy tides of Lissie's tunes are quite alluring, a testament to her sense of craft, a gift that bears a double edge.
Lissie’s third album is perhaps a patchy affair, but when it hits its high points it works beautifully.
The move to a more bucolic existence hasn’t altered Lissie’s audacious, some might say lofty, artistic vision.
Lissie’s voice has settled into a sedate, plainspoken croon, somewhere between Sheryl Crow and Ashley Monroe, or at times like Sia when she sounds like she’s gulping down a faceful of air with every syllable.
For her third album My Wild West, Lissie seems to go back to her country roots, reflecting her childhood and the journey that shaped her to become the singer songwriter we see today. Lissie has always been great at portraying authentic lyrics and narratives, with this album probably being her most intimate and personal of hers to date.
I absolutely love these sweet folk Midwestern style melodies on this album, especially with tracks like Hero and Ojai. Great album to sling on on a Sunday ... read more
Sort of a middlebrow album, but that shouldn't necessarily be held against it -- Lissie successfully pulls off the kind of album she intended to make, which is a thoughtful folk-pop album with major overarching themes of alienation and disillusionment. Not universally interesting, but sometimes powerful.
A mid-range pop album with folk inflections throughout. High points are Stay and Don't You Give Up on Me. Low point: Hero.
#12 | / | Albumism |