Shelby Earl - The Man Who Made Himself A Name (2017)

Seattle singer Shelby Earl returns with The Man Who Made Himself A Name, the long awaited follow up to 2013's critically acclaimed album Swift Arrows. Working with engineer/producer Martin Feveyear (Brandie Carlisle, Damien Jurado, Mark Lanegan), Earl's new record shines a light on her pop instincts, with lush arrangements and shimmering textures throughout. The lead single "James," a recollection of a former lover, is built around a lean, driving rhythm section that explodes during the chorus. Another standout track (and the first recorded for this collection), "Stay With Me Tonight," is a lush, string-laden pop ballad, pushing Earl's voice toward the confectionery pop of the late '80s. To get these diverse sounds, Earl recruited acclaimed Seattle ensemble The Spectacles to be her backing band, as well as calling in some special guests, including Josiah Johnson from The Head And The Heart, who sings on the duet "Like I Do."