Taylor Leonhardt's 2021 album, Hold Still, is like a warm plate of southern comfort. Well-worn authenticity drips from her voice. You can tell she was raised on and influenced by the work of Emmylou Harris, Brandi Carlisle, and Allison Krauss among others. But for whatever reason, I could simply not put into words my love for this album in review format until this year, nearly a year after its release to the public. I sat down several times and just couldn't do it; that's not because it isn't excellent, because it is fantastic. After all, it was my favorite record of 2021, with easily thirty-plus album listens and rising. Then it struck like a bolt of lightning: she reminds me of another longtime favorite of my favorite decade the 90s -- Susan Ashton. With that realization, something unlocked. So, after several tries with no success, again for the first time we go.
Every listen to Hold Still feels like an invitation to a deep conversation with a hot beverage in hand. In the midst of another hard year, it just hit the spot. It's the kind of slow-burn album I've gravitated towards these last two years specifically. I urge you to give it a few spins. Take in the lyrics. The stories. The relatable storytelling. Right out of the gate, the vulnerable jealousy-versus-contentment struggle of "Happy or Whatever" sets an authencic tone that the rest of the album matches perfectly. A few highlight lyrics are, "Last night I bought a lie /I saw an ad online /all these smiling people had it figured out /If I could be someone else /someone besides myself /I might have a little less to cry about." And the chorus also strikes a relatable chord, "I'm on the other side of the glass / Lookin at the life they have / Ain't it so much better / It's always easier to believe / It's easy for them to be / Happy or whatever."
Another highlight of a stellar set is "Mother's Daughter," which addresses heritage and an inherited character trait of stubbornness. Leonhardt confesses and warns, "You think I'm easy to love?/Just try to push me around /You wanna rile me up?/Just tell me to calm down." Additionally, "The Bridge" looks inward at self-sabotage stating ruefully, "When I live at the mercy of everyone else /I die a little inside every time I abandon myself."
My personal favorite of the tracklist is the title track, which deals with fighting for a relationship when things get tough. The chorus is particularly striking when she coos, "Hold still don't run/You'll never find the love you want/If you take off when it gets real/You wanna be held/You gotta hold still." From there, "Belly of the Whale" is about resting on the promises of God, "Someday You're Gonna Leave Me," is a sweet ode to a furry friend," Keep Me Around" touches on friendship, and "Poetry" ends things perfectly with resolute trust in being God's workmanship, a work of art.
All in all, Hold Still is the rare album that caught me on first listen with its warm tone, relatable subject matter, and long-stroll-in the-woods pace. Further still, after catching my ear initially, my appreciation for it has only deepened as it has soaked into my soul like a good solid rain after a long drought. The ten songs were undoubtedly labored over, and meticulously crafted, and it shows. Nothing on the album is in a rush or demanding, but in its laid-back nature, there is still plenty of nuance and flavor ingrained in each song, each lyric. Hold Still is absolutely the kind of record I crave to listen to on vinyl, and I cannot recommend it enough. Give it a shot, give it time, and you just may have found a new favorite album and artist as I did.
- Review date: 9/10/22, written by Josh Balogh of Jesusfreakhideout.com
Record Label: None
Kate Stanford Unveils New Single, "Stand on Your Promises" Thu, 18 Apr 2024 12:40:00 EST |
Deitrick Haddon Set To Release New Album May 17 Wed, 17 Apr 2024 13:50:00 EST |
Centricity Music / Publishing Announce Newest Artist / Songwriter, Bay Turner Wed, 17 Apr 2024 13:40:00 EST |
DPB's "Undefeated 3.0 (Radio Edit)" Hits #1 on National Radio Hits AC40 Chart Wed, 17 Apr 2024 13:30:00 EST |
Crystal Aikin Sets Date for First-Ever Live Recording Wed, 17 Apr 2024 13:20:00 EST |
Arielle Nichole Awarded Songwriter of the Year Wed, 17 Apr 2024 13:10:00 EST |
Millennial Reign Releases Music Video for New Single, "Bring Me to Life" Wed, 17 Apr 2024 12:50:00 EST |
DAD TIRED FOUNDER JERRAD LOPES EXPANDS POPULAR MINISTRY WITH DEBUT CHILDREN’S TITLE Wed, 10 Apr 2024 17:07:46 +0000 |
“Anything Goes” by Andrew Kerhoulas of Brother K Thu, 04 Apr 2024 02:54:00 +0000 |
Demi-Leigh Tebow to release debut book this August Mon, 18 Mar 2024 21:20:38 +0000 |