Things are still very tense up here in Minneapolis and they are sure to only get worse so why not distract me (and you readers) with some new music starting with Sarah King’s new EP ‘The Hour’.
A wave of calmness came over me as soon as “Poison” took over my house. Sarah’s voice is powerful and so full of soul that it is goosebump-inducing. The first comparison that comes to mind would be that Sarah King is the female version of William Elliot Whitmore with the way she is able to convey so much hurt, pain, and emotion with every word while a band drifts behind her. Although this track is slow and steady, the power in this track and the self-empowerment being talked about in the lyrics keep the track from going to a dark place or even giving off a somber mood.
Even though “Nightstand” is still a super moody track, something about Sarah’s vocals seem a little bit brighter. Still full of soul and painful lyrics, this track had me drifting away while being completely lost in the vocals. The instrumentation is minimal but just helps add power to the vocals in such a beautiful way. Both Sarah’s voice and the band could stand on their own and be amazing but, when put together, they truly make something magical.
“Cold Hard Ground” instantly reminded me of KT Tunstall. There’s an almost Americana vibe in this track while still being a bit dark and moody. There has been a sense of grit and swagger hidden in the first two tracks and I feel like that element really comes to the forefront during this third track of the EP. I wouldn’t call it a southern type of swagger but there’s definitely a bitter edge in this track that is absolutely captivating.
The first track I ever heard from Sarah King was “Not Worth The Whisky” and that happens to be the next track on this EP. I was struck by the attitude in this track the first time I heard it and now, hearing as part of this full EP, it just really hits even harder than that first listen. The title says it all. This is a bitter-tongued track, again, so full of emotional soul that it’s almost painful. Slow and steady with Sarah’s signature minimalistic instrumentation and soaring vocals, this is still a stand-out track to me and absolutely my favorite track on this quick EP.
Sarah closes out this stunning album with a live cover of “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath. Although I panicked a little bit when I saw this on the tracklist as I couldn’t quite see how her style would fit this track, it all made sense as the song played through. The moody vocals and endless amount of grit and swagger really give this track an element that I don’t think even Black Sabbath could give it. Although I’m not typically a huge fan of cover songs (or bands for that matter), I love the fact that Sarah King has flipped this track over and made it completely her own. Had it been a lesser-known track, I probably wouldn’t have even caught onto the fact that it was a cover and that takes talent.
Things are going to be weird in Minneapolis this week but I am so thankful to know I have ‘The Hour’ from Sarah King to fall back on when I need a couple of minutes to just calm down and breathe.
My Favorite Track(s): “Not Worth The Whisky”
For Fans Of: Soulful Power; Moody Emotion; Grit & Swagger
Daydream-ability: 6 out of 10
What My Cats Thought Of It: Artie slept right next to my computer; Autumn slept in the “scratch lounge” next to my couch
How Badly I Want To See This Performed Live: 7 out of 10
My Overall Rating: 7.3 out of 10
Check Out Sarah King Here:
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