From Grandville, Michigan, Annie Wildgen is another up and coming female country artist to take notice of. Playing piano since she was five, singing since six, playing guitar and beginning songwriting at 16 and immersing herself in country music her whole life, Wildgen has been working towards this EP for many years. Wildgen's sound is similar to the country duo 3rd & Union's sound, made up of Palmer Lee and Chase Coy. She has the country base, but pop/rock and folk influence on all the songs, but like the duo's album displays.
Some of the best country songs are ones with word play, but it's difficult to make work, and not make it an awful song like Florida Georgia Line's "Sun Daze." Wildgen does it beautifully in one of the standout tracks of this EP. "Where We're Lyin'" tells a heartbreaking story of a couple who are both dishonest to each other about cheating and when they are together, feel nothing anymore. The key line of the chorus is: "We can't admit the truth from where were lying," playing on the couple laying down on the bed, but also lying to each other on a daily basis. Country music is at it's finest when it tells stories from beginning to end, that make you feel something, whether sad, angry, nostalgic, it's supposed to make you feel something other than 'I want to get up and dance to this completely misogynistic but insanely catchy song.' This song does that. Although Wildgen has a strong and lovely voice, it's a song like this that emphasizes how she puts songwriting before singing, and has worked hard to hone her craft.
There's an interesting parallel between "Where We're Lyin'" and the fifth track "Bring the Sunshine." In the former track, Wildgen sings, "the sun rises through the window," while talking about a broken relationship. In the latter, happier track, she sings, "Don't even need to open the blinds / cause you bring the sunshine." This is another sign of a great songwriter — having connections and common themes throughout their songs.
There's an interesting parallel between "Where We're Lyin'" and the fifth track "Bring the Sunshine." In the former track, Wildgen sings, "the sun rises through the window," while talking about a broken relationship. In the latter, happier track, she sings, "Don't even need to open the blinds / cause you bring the sunshine." This is another sign of a great songwriter — having connections and common themes throughout their songs.
Pop is prevalent on this EP, but not as much as you would expect from an artist that identifies as country/pop/folk. The songs overall have a country feel to them, despite the fact that Wildgen's voice isn't very twangy. There are songs reminiscent of Carrie Underwood's album Some Hearts, like "My Kind of Melody," with the country/pop/rock sound, and there are pop country songs like "Bring the Sunshine," which is an example of pop country at its finest, but on the rest of the tracks, it's basically close to country you can get these days and still have contemporary appeal. Wildgen does that excellently: appealing to the pop consumers but also staying true to the genre of country music.
But in some cases, the pop rock influence doesn't work out as well as it could have. "Never Comes Easy" is a song that has the best intentions, and is written beautifully, about losing someone in your life, but has some production flaws. The verses are driven by acoustic guitar, fiddle and other country instrumentals, but the chorus is surprisingly rocky, and doesn't really work with the rest of the song, or the rest of the EP. Lyrically, it's a gorgeous song and deserves a lot of credit for that, but the production leaves a bit to be desired.
"Hopeless Romance" is another one that stresses the talent that Wildgen has as a storyteller. Wildgen tells the full love story of a couple that broke up, and how she still thinks about him even after they are completely over. It's a story of love and loss, of regret and nostalgia. And again, Wildgen uses word play, by taking a new meaning of the phrase 'hopeless romantic' and using it in the context of a failed relationship. Definitely worth a thorough listen.
The EP finishes with "Little Bit Longer," a country/folk ballad about self confidence and chasing dreams. A beautiful and uplifting ballad, it rounds out the EP nicely, with Wildgen emphasizing that she chose the right thing to do with her life — go into country music and songwriting. And all of her fans and the industry will be glad that she chose music as well. Wildgen has a lot to offer country music, and I have a feeling that this EP is just the beginning of what she can, and what she will do in country music.
Best tracks: Where We're Lyin', Hopeless Romance, Bring the Sunshine
Throwaway tracks: none
Overall rating: 4 ½ crowns
But in some cases, the pop rock influence doesn't work out as well as it could have. "Never Comes Easy" is a song that has the best intentions, and is written beautifully, about losing someone in your life, but has some production flaws. The verses are driven by acoustic guitar, fiddle and other country instrumentals, but the chorus is surprisingly rocky, and doesn't really work with the rest of the song, or the rest of the EP. Lyrically, it's a gorgeous song and deserves a lot of credit for that, but the production leaves a bit to be desired.
"Hopeless Romance" is another one that stresses the talent that Wildgen has as a storyteller. Wildgen tells the full love story of a couple that broke up, and how she still thinks about him even after they are completely over. It's a story of love and loss, of regret and nostalgia. And again, Wildgen uses word play, by taking a new meaning of the phrase 'hopeless romantic' and using it in the context of a failed relationship. Definitely worth a thorough listen.
The EP finishes with "Little Bit Longer," a country/folk ballad about self confidence and chasing dreams. A beautiful and uplifting ballad, it rounds out the EP nicely, with Wildgen emphasizing that she chose the right thing to do with her life — go into country music and songwriting. And all of her fans and the industry will be glad that she chose music as well. Wildgen has a lot to offer country music, and I have a feeling that this EP is just the beginning of what she can, and what she will do in country music.
Best tracks: Where We're Lyin', Hopeless Romance, Bring the Sunshine
Throwaway tracks: none
Overall rating: 4 ½ crowns
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