If you’ve seen or heard Rachel Loshak before, chances are that she was supporting Norah Jones (like she did at this year’s Grammys). Jones even has a blurb on the front of Loshak’s new album Mint: “Rachel is one of a kind and I love this record!” While calling Loshak one of a kind might be pushing it a little, there’s no denying that this is a great pop album. From the beginning of the first track on the album, “Rain,” one might say that Jones likes Loshak because their styles are very similar. Let a minute or two pass, though, and you will see that Mint has much more to offer than Come Away with Me, Jones’ first album that took all at this year’s Grammys.
What Loshak has that sets her apart from Norah Jones is a surprising texture in her songs, in addition to sweetly haunting melodies that linger past the first few listens. The album is also fairly versatile; it ranges from slow, melancholy songs like “The Dreamer” to more upbeat and sometimes experimental pieces such as “Single Rose.” The lyrics lend maturity that makes the already unique songs a sophisticated variation of everyday pop. An example is “The Dreamer”, which has an ethereal, floating feel: “Please don’t die tonight/ Give me back your life to live for/... I’m in a dream, so you are me/ And are we thinking about eternity?”
Loshak’s voice is soothing or lightly cheerful, depending on the mood of the track (and the album is quite moody), though it does come across a bit thin when she sings high notes or attempts to be forceful. Her voice is better suited to the slower, more low-key tracks on the album. Overall, however, Mint is a great find that showcases Loshak’s talent as a vocalist, bassist, and songwriter, and the other musicians featured on the album splendidly frame the songs for a very flattering picture.
1. Rain
2. Never Look Back
3. The Dreamer
4. Single Rose
5. Latin Rock III
6. No Words
7. Sweet as Sin
8. When the Moon and the Sun
9. Four-Leaved Clover
10. All Day Long
11. I Know I Could
More about: Rachel Loshak
