The Lovells have been making music together for 20 years. Five as a trio, The Lovell Sisters, and Fifteen as a duo Larkin Poe after The passing of older sister Jessica. Rebecca and Megan are coming off their most successful album to date, “Blood Harmony” in 2022which ended up taking home a Grammy Award in early 2024. Originally from North Georgia, and now based in Americana and country music in Nashville, they are back with their seventh studio album, “Bloom,” co-produced by Tyler Bryant.
The record begins with a firecracker of a track – “Mockingbird”. Megan’s opening steel strings, coupled with Rebecca’s sultry vocals and a husky voice that carries echoes of Brandi Carlile, have you think this LP will blow you away in the best way. Sadly, that’s not the case as “Easy Love Pt 1” really goes to town with the country harmonies, bordering on the middle of the road country pop cliche – “He’s got a little cowboy hat on top” is a lyrical low point.
The quality picks up again with the final single, the psychedelic rocker “Bluephoria”, punctuated by a guitar solo by Rebecca. Jimmy Page will be satisfied with. The lyrics were inspired by blues legend Fury Lewis, as a matter of fact.
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The Lovells have been vocal about the album’s main theme of self-acceptance, however, they seem to be grappling with finding their musical identity on this record, at times lacking in depth and richness on the likes of the bombastic “Nowhere Fast” and the soaring “Pearls.” It’s a step back from the previous version three years ago.
The best recorded songs are the ones that have the most precision and accuracy. The quieter “You Are The River” has some of the strongest hooks and melodies on offer. A friend of the band, Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell, encouraged Rebecca and Megan to let their sisterly harmonies really shine on the closer and title track, “Bloom,” citing similarities to Don and Phil Everly as inspiration. This catchy ending to the record highlights the quality Larkin Poe can produce, but it’s not evident throughout the release as a whole.
“Bloom” is by no means a weak album. The title aspires to represent an album and band that is maturing and thriving musically, but it’s hard not to feel a little underwhelmed by the end result.
6/10
words: Lee Campbell
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