Originally from Livingston, Texas, Laci Kaye Booth began performing live when she was just eight years old, but rocketed to fame when she auditioned for American Idol in 2018. After reaching the top five on season 17 of the show, she released her self-titled major label debut album in 2021. After being named one of CMT's Next Women Of Country in 2022, now she's back with the follow-up, ‘The Loneliest Girl In The World'.
The 15-track project opens with a shimmering, ethereal intro which sees Booth humming over echoing vocals, before going into the track ‘Cigarettes'. It's a driving number with plenty of country twang that contrasts the breathy, fragile tone of her vocals as she reflects on losing a first love as well as her bumpy early experiences in the music industry with lines about opening champagne after being dropped. There's a bittersweet feel about it that adds to the emotional weight of it all and also a sense of maturity and accepting the hard truths, and it definitely feels like a significant departure from Booth's previous work off the bat.
That theme of growing into yourself and finding your place in the world is a big running theme throughout the project. The title track, which pairs a haunting yet sultry melody with lines about ‘no car seats in her Mercedes' as Booth tries to square her own life experiences with that of her friends – including a few well-placed swear words – is an early example of this, with a depth that might surprise a lot of listeners. She also speaks very frankly about her early life and experiences, whether that's references to ‘daddy was a child having one of his own' on the laid-back, lonesome ‘Since 1995′ with its drawn-out strings and stripped-down feel, or talking about her parents' divorce and dealing with her own flaws on ‘Nightmare'. There's something about her frankness here that's really refreshing and it's nice to see her digging into things more deeply.
It isn't all doom and gloom however. ‘I Let Him Love Me', with its spiky chords and passionate energy, features some huge notes from Booth and an empowering, dramatic bridge as she sings about how her new partner ‘loves me like a man' in comparison to the toxic ex she's addressing. Meanwhile, ‘Bill' is a soft, sweet love song full of warmth and affection as she embraces letting herself fall for someone again whilst highlighting her Texas drawl, and ‘Can't Cowboy' provides a complete change of pace with its lively, shuffling melody, gospel-style harmonies and kiss-off lyrics as she warns an old lover not to come back around.
One thing which really stood out to me about the album is how much it leans into classic country sounds. Booth peppers the record with organic touches like tape recording noises or counted intros, and many of the tracks sound like they could have been lifted from the back catalogues of the likes of Patsy Cline or Loretta Lynn. ‘Sometimes' captures this nostalgic vibe really well for me, bringing out the huskier, rich side of her voice and with a real sense of yearning that oozes out of every line, whilst the soaring ‘True Love' feels like the darker side of a Disney soundtrack with its wistful feel, smart wordplay and acapella ending as Booth sings regretfully about missing a lover who moved on. Elsewhere, ‘Neon And Off' features an intro that echoes early Beatles songs with smooth, soulful vocals and some great harmonies (and impressive high notes), whilst ‘Get Out Of My Dreams' has a retro timeless feel about it as well as echoing back to earlier tracks with its Texaco references. Booth really does that attention to detail well on this project and it's a massive help both in helping to build the listener's connection with her and showcasing her skills as a storyteller, particularly on the quietly powerful ‘South' where her narrator is holding on too tightly to a relationship with a man with a wild nature.
After the Kacey Musgraves-esque ‘Damn Good In A Dive Bar' with its bluesy guitar riff and references to karaoke and white tank tops (shades of Dierks Bentley's ‘What Was I Thinking' anyone?), Booth closes the album with ‘Hold On Houston'. Opening with phone calls from her family that echo the intro, it's an emotional tune about pursuing one's dreams whilst still missing home. There's a real sense of love and hope infused throughout Booth's tender delivery on the song, and the slightly abrupt finish leaves you wanting more.
Overall, with ‘The Loneliest Girl In The World' Laci Kaye Booth has produced a record that's raw, vulnerable and sure to elevate her stock as one to watch in the country genre. Her simple approach of using classic country melodies to highlight her distinctive voice and increasing strength as a songwriter really shines through and it's a powerful body of work that shows just how far she's come, as well as making me excited for where she might go next. If I have any criticisms it's that it's maybe a touch too long, but overall this is a great reintroduction to her for old fans as well as something that should win over new listeners, and I hope it's a musical vein that she continues to pursue.
Track listing: 1. Intro 2. Cigarettes 3. The Loneliest Girl In The World 4. Neon & Off 5. Sometimes 6. Since 1995 7. True Love 8. Nightmare 9. I Let Him Love Me 10. Bill 11. Can't Cowboy 12. South 13. Get Out Of My Dreams 14. Damn Good In A Dive Bar 15. Hang On, Houston Record label: Geffen Records Release date: 17th May 2024
