Alexandra Lee is back after not releasing music since 2013. Her debut self titled EP impressed, and spawned the singles "Dancin' round the Fire" and "You've Got This Hold on Me (feat. Tyler Barham)." This one is a bit lighter in subject matter, appropriately titled Summer Love, even though it was released towards the end of the summer. The two main topics of this collection are love and growing up. Two of the songs are mainly about fun, summer love, a love that isn't complicated at all, while the other two lean towards the process of growing up and reminiscing about childhood.
Love comes up in the opening track, "Have I Got A Girl For You," as well as one of the best songs on this EP, "Catch My Breath." The former one is an interesting track, and a fan favorite. In the song, Lee describes a girl that this man should date, saying that she's "somebody you can lean on / who makes you feel good like a sweet song / who can make you laugh when you wanna cry / who loves you just the way you are." The question is whether Lee is actually describing another girl, or herself. But that's up to the listener. The latter track "Catch My Breath" is the most uptempo song on the EP, and the one that seems like it would do the best on country radio today. Lee kills the vocals on this one, and the pop/rock influenced country production emphasizes that. The hook of this song is genius: "Let me catch my breath / before you take it away." It is a perfect love song, and is an example of what Lee does best.
But along with love, as mentioned before, this EP is also quite nostalgic. Lee emphasizes missing her childhood in the two remaining tracks, "Wishing Well" and "All Your Love," singing of how thankful she is for everyone who made her childhood as wonderful as it was, not unlike the old Edens Edge song "Cherry Pie." "All Your Love" is the better of the two tracks, an ode to Lee's parents. The song is one of the most country songs on the EP, with the fiddle and acoustic guitar based production. The song is sweet, and can be sickly sweet at some points, but it does round out the EP nicely.
But along with love, as mentioned before, this EP is also quite nostalgic. Lee emphasizes missing her childhood in the two remaining tracks, "Wishing Well" and "All Your Love," singing of how thankful she is for everyone who made her childhood as wonderful as it was, not unlike the old Edens Edge song "Cherry Pie." "All Your Love" is the better of the two tracks, an ode to Lee's parents. The song is one of the most country songs on the EP, with the fiddle and acoustic guitar based production. The song is sweet, and can be sickly sweet at some points, but it does round out the EP nicely.
Two of the best songs on Lee's debut self-titled EP were songs titled "Already Broken" and "If You Ever Really Loved Me." These were vulnerable, emotional songs, with the former being about, and how "you can't break what's already broken," the broken thing being her. The song is not unlike Maddie & Tae's current hit, "Fly," with the message that "you can learn to fly on the way down." The latter is about telling an ex-boyfriend to let her go, against rock-influenced production and an emotional vocal performance. There isn't that vulnerability shown on this EP, which is a bit of a loss. However, this is just a summer EP, so that side of Lee is sure to show up again in the near future.
Alexandra Lee has the voice and the lyrics to have great success. As a follow up to her incredible debut EP, this collection falls slightly short, but only because of the length of it, and because of the lightness of the topics discussed on it. However, there is no doubt that Lee can surpass herself and release music that is better than anything she has ever released before in the near future.
Best tracks: Catch My Breath, All Your Love
Throwaway tracks: Wishing Well
Overall rating: 4 crowns
Alexandra Lee has the voice and the lyrics to have great success. As a follow up to her incredible debut EP, this collection falls slightly short, but only because of the length of it, and because of the lightness of the topics discussed on it. However, there is no doubt that Lee can surpass herself and release music that is better than anything she has ever released before in the near future.
Best tracks: Catch My Breath, All Your Love
Throwaway tracks: Wishing Well
Overall rating: 4 crowns
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