The frontwoman of the North Carolina trio Mount Moriah – H.C. McEntire – is out with her solo debut, Lionheart, a stirring album of gospel tinged country-rock that expresses McEntire’s feelings and observations as a queer woman raised and living in the American South. “Lionheart is personal: from recording it mostly at my house, to inviting close friends to play on it and put themselves in it, to the deeply autobiographical narratives of place and people,” writes McEntire. “In music, there are no rules. You make your own language. You can be both the Southern rock outlier and the twangy gospel conduit. You can be both the cherubic, honey-tongued innocent and the ardent punk. To get here – to find my lion hear – I had to become them all.” McEntire was joined in her Durham, NC living room by an impressive cast of friends for the recording of Lionheart, the likes of whom included: Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill, Le Tigre), Angel Olsen, Amy Ray (Indigo Girls), Tift Merritt, William Tyler, and Phil Cook (DeYarmond Edison, Megafaun). Album highlights include: the gorgeous yet somber “A Lamb, A Dove”; the tender song “Quartz in The Valley”; the Lucinda Williams-esque rocker “Baby’s Got the Blues”; “Red Silo”—a song about remembering when old southern towns smelled like tobacco; the lovely ballad “Yellow Roses”; and the reflective “When You Come for Me.” Lionheart is a fearless record full of superb music performed beautifully – seek it out; you won’t be disappointed! – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Hiss Golden Messenger, Jade Jackson, Mount Moriah, Margo Price, The Weather Station