Sisters Kendra and Krista Slaubaugh – better known as Tigirlily Gold – started their band in high school back in North Dakota before moving to Nashville, where they regularly performed at local bars ahead of their big break. They released their self-titled debut EP in 2021, have toured with the likes of Walker Hayes and Ashley McBryde, and performed at C2C two years on the trot (including making their Spotlight Stage debut this March). Now, fresh off winning the ACM Award for New Duo or Group of the Year, they've released their debut album, ‘Blonde'.
The 10-track record kicks off with the title song, an ode to the wonders of a good dye job. It's an upbeat number with a funky groove and really shows off the duo's playful and cheeky side, especially on the big singalong chorus. Kendra and Krista's vocals blend together beautifully as they pay tribute to Dolly Parton, Marilyn Monroe and Debbie Harry in the lyrics and the chorus is an irresistible singalong. To me it feels like a real statement of intent and very much sets the template for the rest of the project.
One thing which really stood out to me is how smart the writing is here. The twangy, biting ‘Leroy' is a great example of this, with the narrator having the confidence to walk away from a no-good boyfriend (and no, he isn't called Leroy) and sweet vocals from the pair that contrast the sassy lyrics. Elsewhere, ‘Hometown Song' takes the typical country theme of celebrating where you come from and flips it on its head, almost channeling the energy associated with a breakup. The soaring vocals really help bring to life the band's conflicting feelings about going back to where they grew up and it's a really clever spin on a well-worn idea.
For me some of the strongest moments come on the slower numbers. ‘I Tried A Ring On' has a stripped back, acoustic feel and there's a subdued quality about it as the band looks back with bittersweet memories on a romance that didn't quite work out, whilst regretting that they let themselves get carried away in the first place. It's a really different angle and there's a quiet power about it that really makes it stand out. On the complete opposite end of the scale, love songs ‘End Up Us' and ‘Only Once' have a midtempo vibe that gives the girls an opportunity to show off some impressive high notes and vocal runs, with a smooth quality throughout and pop touches on the former, whilst the latter has rocky touches that stop it from feeling too saccharine (as well as my favourite lyric on the album – ‘got me like Cash babe, I'm walking the line'). I can definitely see these two soundtracking a lot of weddings in the future!
That said, there's also a lot of fun to be had here. ‘Move On' is a sultry, slinky number with an almost 90s country feel and quick delivery of the flirty lyrics, whilst ‘Stupid Prizes' features a whistling intro, driving rhythm and writing so sharp it could slice cucumber. Lead single ‘Shoot Tequila', meanwhile, is every bit as fun now as it was on first listen, with plenty of country twang and punchy drums underneath its catchy, anthemic chorus.
The album closes with the sisters' take on ‘Bleeding Love', originally recorded by Leona Lewis. They've fully leant into the country vibe here, with plenty of acoustic guitars and strings that build up in layers, and really highlighting their vocal range. There's a softness here that sets it apart from the original and I feel like they've really made the song their own.
Overall ‘Blonde' is a terrific first album for a duo who look set to go far. It oozes charm and confidence, with gorgeous lush vocals throughout, and plenty of energy that's going to lend itself really well to live performances. If you're looking for an easy-to-listen-to album to soundtrack your summer with plenty of bops, then this could be right up your alley, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Kendra and Krista do next.
Track listing: 1. Blonde 2. Leroy 3. Hometown Song 4. Move On 5. End Up Us 6. I Tried A Ring On 7. Stupid Prizes 8. Shoot Tequila 9. Only Once 10. Bleeding Love Record label: Monument Records/Sony Music Entertainment Release date: 26th July 2024
