Kentucky Blue in Bloomington, MN

Pivoting from
Dan Auerbach
to
Sturgill Simpson
as her collaborator,
Brit Taylor
doubles down on her roots on
Kentucky Blue
while also expanding into territory that couldn't strictly be classified as bluegrass.
cannily builds, kicking off with a trio of the straightest bluegrass numbers on the record, each delivered with verve by
Taylor
; she sounds sly on "Cabin in the Woods" and heartbreakingly plaintive on "Kentucky Blue." As the record gains momentum, it grows increasingly adventurous: "No Cowboys" is a soft, sympathetic supporting arrangement of strings and twangy guitars, a combination that seems nearly cinematic; "If You Don't Wanna Love Me" grooves to a backbeat that finds the funk in Americana; and with its spritely tempos and neon-lit strings, "For a Night" feels like a forgotten classic from the early '70s. What ties this all together is
's sharp writing and nuanced, empathetic delivery: she has a sweet, clear voice that never seems soft -- it is clear and compelling, a constant focal point on this quietly audacious record. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine