Oakland transplant from Seattle, singer/songwriter Madeline Kenney released her third album, Sucker's Lunch a little over a week ago on Friday July 31st.
In May, I was delighted with the surprise of being asked if I'd like to review her upcoming new album and eagerly answered yes. In mere days, the world as everyone knew it seemed to come to an end.
After days which turned into weeks that turned into months of fighting for justice, marching, sending emails to save stages, taking any type of work I could, working, being kicked out of my apartment, looking for a place to live, moving, taking (and passing) community college courses and last but most certainly not least taking care of myself the July 31st release date of Sucker's Lunch passed me by.
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In the last three years, Kenney has released three full studio albums.
Her debut, 2017's Night Night at the First Landing was produced by Toro Y Moi's Chaz Bear. Her sophomore album, 2018's Perfect Shapes was produced Jenn Wasner of Wye Oak and Flock of Dimes.
Less than two years later Kenney re-enlisted Wasner along with Andy Stack from Wye Oak for her third album.
Sucker's Lunch is a dream, as in listening to it is like listening to a dream come true.
In a time when a lot of music being released is about the times we're surviving through, it is so nice to listen to a new album that can completely take you away from it all.
Kenney's third installment has been getting big time praises from big time names in the indie music scene since before it was even released:
"The playing, the mixing, the production, the SINGING and especially the songwriting are what absolutely slay me on Sucker's Lunch. If you want to put an album on and have it carry you up, like a helicopter with blades that look and feel like grass, but are as solid as steel...that carry you up over yourself, play this record. Just make sure you are ready." - Justin Vernon (Bon Iver)
"Kenney has once again created a microcosm of a record to get lost in - each song a different constellation composed of shining observations." - Amelia Meath (Sylvan Esso)
"Sugar Sweet" is dessert before the main course, welcoming us to everything that is and can be Sucker's Lunch. This sweetly poetic opening, in a way, is almost deceiving in it's foreshadowing. Marrying so many different sounds together, some subtle, some more distinct. Kenney's vocal range even runs the gamete in this first song.
After listening to the album cover to cover "Sugar Sweat" is definitely one of my favorite tracks.
Like a tarot card reading, depending on the person, timing and mood it can hit you differently every time you hear it.
"Sucker", which was the first single released off of the album a few weeks...maybe months ago by now, floored me when I first heard it.
I couldn't stop listening to it.
Something about it's simple guitar licks and the harmonizing of deep male vocals along side Kenney's sang to me like I was the only one in the room.
I couldn't get enough of it.
I was and am a sucker for "Sucker".
It's at this point that you realize that that powerful vulnerability that was introduced on Sugar Sweat is the driving force of the album. It takes a lot of courage to be vulnerable, let alone share it and Madeline Kenney does that through out Sucker's Lunch all whilst wearing her heart on her sleeve.
Another one of my favorite tracks is "Cut the Real". It's synth start with heavy bass give it an 80's appeal before the quick uplifting breakdown carries it away into the indie oblivion from which it came. There are so many brilliant lines and lyrics through out this album but if I had to pick just one it 'd be "if I wasn't such a mess I'd start something" from this song. It's like a sucker punch to the gut getting you in right in the feels.
Sparkly chorus's, warm guitar hooks and her soft yet stern voice are nothing short of magical.
It's robust.
It's moody.
It's moving but not the make you dance type of moving (sway back and forth moving for sure).
When I listen to this album I find myself imagining hearing it being played live at one of my favorite intimate local music venues like The Independent in San Francisco: eyes closed, letting the music saturate me.
What a treat it'd be to catch Madeline sing a new song or two at a festival like under THAT tent at Bonnaroo or the Sutro Stage in Linley Field at Outside Lands, or...anywhere really.
Sucker's Lunch as a whole is a great album and is great to listen to full on, or in the background. It's also great to listen to anytime of day, either to ease into waking up, carry you through the afternoon or to wind down at night.
It will break your heart while mending it at the same time.
As they say, the third time is a charm and Madeline Kenney's third album Sucker's Lunch sure is charming.
(can we talk about that that album cover photo?!)
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