American Folk: Lisa Alice's Plans in Pencil

Lisa Alice’s Plans in Pencil EP starts off with guitar work like that of David Wilcox’s “Eye of the Hurricane.” Alice has lyrical expression like a more melodic Ani DiFranco. This first track, “Tuesday Sirens,” has focused energy on the chorus that contemplates the drifting off parts of the verses. “Not Blue” does have the blues, a slight blues walk. “The Note” has a similar driving guitar work like “Tuesday Sirens.”

Enveloped in Alice’s voice and guitar, I’m reminded of Acoustic Guitar magazines great CD series from a few years back called Acoustic Artists. The subscription series CD were compilations of artists who had been spotlighted by the magazine. Acoustic Artists CDs were always rich and warm with the acoustic guitar sound, wielding and spun and hammered by so many talented hands. That rich and warm sound is found in Lisa Alice. If the series still existed, I’d nominate “The Note” for inclusion. Besides its guitar work, the song also turns a note in a pocket into a wonderful metaphor: “You try to fold it up, tuck it away, spin around/Like I can’t see your back pocket full of leaving.” Alice can turn a phrase and turn that guitar.

Thanks to Lisa Alice and Ridiculum Records for the review
copy.