Lissie – Castles

Castles soundtracks a tectonic shift in pop folk singer Lissie’s personal life. After spending over a decade in California, growing weary of the music industry machine, she relocated to a farmhouse in Iowa where she wrote the album. Don’t expect some revolutionary change in sound, though. It’s a little moodier, a little more atmospheric, but still a Lissie album through-and-through. If anything, it’s her poppiest yet.

Unfortunately, despite leaving behind the phoniness of the music biz, Castles includes some of the most impersonal songwriting of Lissie’s career; lyrically, she too often trades in generic pop platitudes. On Love Blows, Lissie spits mind-numbing lines ('I need your love, I want your love / I can't go on without your love') under the pretence of irony. Boyfriend starts strong, in which the Illinois-native uses descriptive imagery to reflect upon her idyllic new home, but soon settles into tired tropes on a humdrum chorus.

Even when the songwriting falters, Lissie’s incredible voice elevates Castles. Four albums into her career, she still manages to surprise with her acrobatic delivery. Unapologetically optimistic, Best Days is the highlight of the record, moored by her potent vocal melody on its rallying chorus. Lissie recalls the move that spurred the album ('Left Ojai for the next best thing / Got a pick-up truck'), and confidently assures the listener that her best is yet to come.

Listen to: Best Days, Crazy Girl