Singer/songwriter
Thea Gilmore
is an ambitious lass on her third album,
Rules for Jokers
. She boldly moves beyond the
rock
edges of
The Lipstick Conspiracies
for a confident,
folk-rock
appeal and it works magnificently. Acoustic guitars are ablaze throughout, giving
a tough stance without much aggression. Lyrically,
Gilmore
is a complete artist. Her depictions of deception, sex, religion, and politics are richly textured in balladry. The daring and lustful
"This Girl Is Taking Bets"
dances around
rockabilly
/
country
jigs while
"St. Luke's Summer"
creeps along with
's hollowed vocals.
"Benzedrine"
is
' shiny
pop
song; cellos and chimes accent crashing percussion for a dazzling look into self-perception. For a woman who's barely out of her teens,
sings with a weathered conviction, and it's mind-blowing.
reflects upon trials and tribulations one may face, but without vengeance and bitterness.
sharply shapes it into something tangible without relying on massive production to heighten the album's overall punch. ~ MacKenzie Wilson