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No matter how hard we try to deny or hide it, Texans have an accent. Not everyone’s is obvious in everyday speech, but after a few beers the twang starts to become more pronounced and difficult to ignore. And it doesn’t take long for that accent to take hold upon adopting the state either. Such is the case of singer-songwriter Claire Small. The Austin-by-way-of Nashville songwriter’s sophomore full-length, How Do You Like Love?, would be mislabeled under country, as her ambient folk-rock influences contradict the traditional structure too openly. Still, throughout Small’s dreamy LP is the presence of elements like honky-tonk electric organ that allow her pop-inflections to fluctuate from light country shadings to full-blown country homages.
Claire Small seems to epitomize the Austin influence, that ideal of bringing both flower children and cowboys together to shake hands on neutral ground. Songs like title track “How Do You Like Love?” and “Bird in my Hand” even call on a hint of Middle Eastern influences, using the guitar to mock up almost sitar-type lines. The combination of these two vastly different influences is much more effective for “Bird in my Hand,” which drops the country elements for a large part of the song, and the guitar work at the end gives the earthy song just the right amount of punch. The title track, however, offers too much of a contradiction in the same song, and the parts end up working against each other more than being cohesive.
How Do You Like Love? is at its best when it commits to its influenced roots. Delicate songs like “All I Have” and “Promises” have the tears in my beer type of longing and rely more on vocal techniques than complex musicality. Her voice shows much more range and passion in these, exposing her when she cannot use the rich layers as her crutch. Ambitious vocal lines in the funky, honky-tonk jam “Can’t Come Undone” are much less apparent under the equally prominent guitar and organ, but unlike the other songs where Small’s voice sounds meek or lost, her suddenly sassy attitude fights to stay relevant among instruments. “Good Enough” uses country lines, but with different instruments, like a keyboard replacing what might be a steel guitar, and very obvious, protruding bass lines. This interesting take on the style is a more subtle nod to her obvious influence, creating a unique style that is difficult to place among the rest of the album.
Piano is sadly sparse on the album, but impresses when taking the lead on “Angels Over Texas” and briefly in “Daylight.” “Angels Over Texas” features a frantic but sweet piano line, swirling back and forth down the keyboard and remaining the lone instrument until the second stanza when guitars and drums rush in behind it. In contrast, “Daylight” uses the darker side of the keys, relying on the heavier notes to create a brief burden before another instrumental release into a lighter side.
How Do You Like Love? is full of memorable and unique tracks, despite largely relying on the similar styles. Her poetic, earth-child lyrics with Hank Williams bent backing offer are largely a sweet and unexpected balance that fits well in the Austin music scene. Claire Small offers proof that being “a little bit country” isn’t always such a bad thing.
Websites:
Myspace
www.clairesmall.com
