God she has an amazing voice. Think a little bit Patti Smith, if Smith sang country rock, mixed with may be a bit Joan Jett. Anyway, Mia Dyson is absolutely gripping and you feel what she feels – elation or despair. Dyson takes you with her.
This release is much more country-driven than her previous, rockier album, The Moment. It still has some wild, belt-your-heart-out anthems though – in particular Idyllwild and Crazy Horse, which she recorded previously with the trio comprised of Dyson, Stringer, Cloher.
Many of the tracks reflect on the passage of time and it sounds like things are getting better: “Maybe we don’t have to make it. Maybe we have it made. I’m learning to live darlin’, in my own skin. It doesn’t come easy. I’ve been dreaming myself away for years. Growing up tangled, growing up mangled” (Growing Up).
Made From The Same Clay is a beautiful call to compassion. Dyson wrote it after being confronted with “rampant and very visible homelessness” when she moved to Los Angeles, reminding us that “we are made from the same clay – I could be you on a different day”.
Based On Your Eyes is the surprise track – it’s more soul/gospel than anything else and beautiful to boot.
BY MEG CRAWFORD
Best Track: Crazyhorse
If You Like These, You’ll Like This: Dyson, Stringer, Cloher EP MIA DYSON, JEN CLOHER and LIZ STRINGER
In A Word: Glorious
