There’s been a lot of buzz about singer-songwriter Caitlyn Smith in the last couple years. The Nashville songbird has been busy songwriting for the likes of Lady Antebellum, Dolly Parton, Rascal Flatts, and Jason Aldean so she’s kind of a big deal. She also penned singles for NBC’s The Voice (#TeamBlake) winners – Cassadee Pope’s “Wasting All These Tears” and Danielle Bradbery’s “Heart of Dixie.” Pope’s “Wasting All These Tears” became a platinum-certified hit with over one million digital downloads and peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and #10 on the Country Airplay chart. In the midst of all her songwriting success she’s been working on a little bit of her own material releasing music to her personal YouTube channel which compile her brand new EP “Everything To You.”
The opening track “Fever” sets the tone for the EP with heavy guitar and a drum driven beat. Smith finds herself so impulsively in love matching its intense feelings with that of a fever like a “strong whiskey, gasoline on a fire.” She wants to resist but she just can’t because she’s “got a fever, fever!” she wails on the hook. There’s simply no medicine for this type of ailment. She brings the tempo down a bit in “Dream Away,” a mother-daughter message to always chase your dreams. It’s a persistently sweet lyric set to a classic country story furthermore solidifying Smith’s reputation as a songwriter. Next is the eponymous “Wasting All These Tears.” She applies her own style, perfectly phrasing each lyric, and showcases her resilient and adaptable voice (she is a vocalist!). The track is a true stand-out in her catalog.
The title track “Everything To You” is a mid-tempo ballad about everything that Smith really is, which is a lot of beautiful things including wildflowers, heart candy, vinyl records, and Saturday nights. “There is nothing I can’t do as long as I’m everything to you” she proclaims in the sweetly sung chorus. She follows up with “Grown Woman.” A bit more rock-influenced, the production conveys the song’s emotion particularly well. It’s a rougher-edged track owning up to who Smith really is – she ain’t perfect but she’s sticking to her guns and will only settle for a man that’ll man up. “Novocaine” is a brooding melody and production about a broken relationship that can’t be numbed. Smith pleads for a shot to fix her heart, “gimme a shot, strong as you got, cause I don’t wanna feel a thing!” The lyrics are bold and passionate making it a highlight of the album. Smith brings it home with “All My Lovers,” a classic ode to her current lover (we’re assuming her husband who she co-wrote “Wasting All These Tears” with) who happens to be better than all of her previous lovers. The track is a perfect close to a cohesive, effortlessly solid album.
Rating: 5/5
“Everything To You” was released on October 28th. You can buy the album on iTunes.
For more, like Caitlyn Smith on Facebook and check out her official site.
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