Laura Veirs
Saltbreakers

THE REVIEW

Like an elaborate dish of elegant nouvelle cousine, but bland, like a red sunset overshadowed by a menacing cloud, like half a kiss given and not given, like a blurry photo, like a beautiful dress that falls badly, like a fresh beer, but evaporated, like a stopped Swiss watch, like a vintage Barolo corked... and one could go on forever. There are a thousand situations where you distinctly feel that something is missing or, conversely, something is too much. Situations that can annoy or disappoint. Like this album by Laura Veirs recently released by the prestigious label Nonesuch.

A simple recipe: choose a common thread for the album, in this case the sea, take a pretty voice, soft just enough, prepare perfect arrangements, insert some little guitars at the right point, a few choruses here and there, alternate potentially intriguing relaxed rhythms with a little jolt intended to liven up the listening. Thus, ranging between different musical genres from pop, to rock, to country, to folk while maintaining the sacred indie aura. Season everything with cultured quotes (Saramago, Melville) to endorse the author's cultural depth to the audience and the game is done... is it done? Are we sure?

It should be done, but it isn't. If only it were that simple. Ingredients are not enough, planning, talent, professionalism are not enough to achieve an unforgettable or at least commendable result. In fact, despite the perfect balance of all its components, this album by the American singer-songwriter ultimately appeared to me as predictable and boring. The singing lacks momentum, the emotion is controlled or reduced to the bone, the melodies promise but do not deliver. Yes, it is not enough to have good production, not enough to have forms, not enough to have little tasks, these, at most, serve to package everything, but in the end you need something more: courage, soul, and passion. Unfortunately, they are missing in this record. Laura Veirs does not put her heart beyond the obstacle, she stops before it. Thus, while listening to the CD, I oscillated between the hope that it would get better and the desire that it would end soon. It did not improve and it lasted too long. And it's a real shame because it could have been a great album.

A lost opportunity? Yes, in the end, this work can be considered in this way, because it could have soared, but it does not take off, it could have dared, but it is fearful. Let's hope it's just a half misstep and not the sign of a bad path that Laura Veirs has embarked upon.