top of page
Search

A Full Album Release from D'Lee Has Arrived

If there's something I could say I've been waiting for for a little while, it would definitely have to be a full-length album from D'Lee, who has been dropping hints and singles for months now, leading up to her LP.

 

Well, that album is finally out, and it definitely showcases all of my favorite aspects about the artist in one big set of songs that deliver loads of soul, southern Country tonality, Americana-riddled songwriting, and a powerful, almost cinematic backbone that lets songs completely thrive and get under your skin in the best ways possible.

 

The album is called Fifty-Five, and it kicks off with "If There's A Place", which doesn't waste much time bringing out that soulful vocal approach as she belts out with gorgeous harmonies and gives you an almost gospel-like aesthetic, while pianos fill the song with depth, acoustic guitars come in, and the song starts leaning towards that southern tonality.

 

I think this is a brilliant track to introduce the record with, simply because you are really getting a high level of her vocal intensity right at the start.

 

She can really be quite moving when she sings, and this song exemplifies that pretty much perfectly.

 

She then gets right into more of a singer-songwriter and almost contemporary area of songwriting is the second track, "Everything Is Fine", which also showcases a lot of her personality as well.

 

D'Lee is not an artist who is afraid to get things off her chest, let out tons of inner thought, speak her mind, and let things be slightly vulnerable if she wants to.


 

Each of these songs has a story, and that's one of her strong points as well. She's an amazing storyteller, which I've said time and time again, reviewing her music.

 

The album is a whole set of stories, and although it's not a concept album of any type, come or at least I didn't pick up on that element if it is, they do connect in different ways.

 

This is an album you don't want to skip around. If you listen to the record all the way through, in one shot, from start to finish, you're really getting a full picture. The picture of who D'Lee is. You're getting all the different sides to her character, and it's a lot to soak in, plenty to chew on, but it's an amazing record to really delve into.

 

As I mentioned before, she doesn't really hold a lot back.

 

"Evel Knievel" gives you more of a southern rock tone and shows an edgier side of her personality, but also manages to stay true to who she is.

 

Great guitar tones all throughout the record, especially the rocking tracks, but the whole album displays a lot of attention to detail when it comes to instrumental tone. Those guitars are always giving you plenty to lean on, and all the songs really create a bit of a mood for the lyrics she puts out there.

 

"Sunday Girl" may be the most experimental but pop-focused track, leaning on production elements to change the shape of what you're hearing. She really hits a different attitude vocally on this one; it's still packed with this amazing instrumentation like keys, banjo, layers of vocal harmonies that serve almost like instruments themselves, and plenty more.

 

I'll say it again, each of these songs is like her telling you a different story, and with each of those stories, you're getting a different side of her personality or her character. That's part of what makes the record so enticing. It's alluring to hear the stories the way she portrays them, and with each track comes its own aesthetic and vibe.

 

It's amazing how a record like this can be so diverse or almost eclectic, but still happy, so consistent and confluent at the same time.

 

She's always bringing to those southern roots. You will almost always hear a southern tone coming from the guitars, vocals, or added instrumentation like banjo or lap steel.

 

The record is packed with stuff like that because she is definitely an Americana artist, leaning into Country.

 

She also isn't afraid to branch out, and that's part of what makes everything so fun.

 

The record gives you some insight into her many musical influences.

 

You can tell that there are a lot because again, there's country, rock, Americana pop, soul, and more.

 

And it's all on this one record, spanning eight tracks.

 

No matter what, when you hear it, you know it's her.

 

Speaking of soul, the closing track, "I'd Bet On You", is one of my favorites. This one incorporates a lot of her deep-toned soulful approaches vocally, along with keys, great rhythm that creates deep-pocketed grooves, and danceable soundscapes, along with some of that southern instrumentation to bring everything home.

 

It is a very warm record, and there's definitely a range of emotions going on throughout the entire thing, but again, if you listen to the whole thing at once, you're really in for the full experience, and I feel like that's what this record is meant for.

 

So, waste no time; the record should already be on while you're reading this.

 

It is great to hear a full album from D'Lee.

 

This is for people who love honest music, classic southern undertone, impactful soul.



bottom of page