Shovels & Rope husband and wife team Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst write songs that strongly reflect a Southern Gothic aesthetic. They fuse that with an approach that seems to draw from indie pop duos like Timbuk 3 and the White Stripes. The dozen songs here liberally flow from their hearts and minds and are delivered in a stark and mellow blend. The duo’s honest observations run the gamut, from racial unity and the challenges of parenthood to the mass shooting at the AME Church that was headline news in their hometown of Charleston, SC this past year.
Score: 8 out of 10
Shovels & Rope
Little Seeds
New West Records
Producer: Michael Trent
