THE TRUTH & OTHER STORIES, NEW ALBUM FROM BRIGID O'NEILL

 From July 2011 to March 2023, I built my Dropped the Moon blog and received 333, 384 views.  Here is the link to that archive of musings, poetry, celebrity profiles, fast fiction, book reviews, music reviews, and much else - https://droppedthemoon.blogspot.com Please have a browse any time.  Due to a technical hitch, I have decided to create a new blog called '2023 New Dropped the Moon', to carry on doing what I have done since 2011.  I hope you enjoy both the archive and the continuance of posts.

****************************************************************************************************

Track Listing:

1 Live a Little Lie Oh

2 Easy

3 Ask Me in a Year

4 Prayers

5 Leaving

6 Take a Day

7 You'e Not Gonna Leave Me Honey

8 Midweek Magic Club

9 Messy Path

10 Amelia

11 Pilot's Weather

Summary borrowed from Amazon:

Brigid O'Neill's new album The Truth & Other Stories, recorded at Skinny Elephant Studios in Nashville with Neilson Hubbard in the producer's chair, cannot help but be influenced by the times which informed it, 'very few people escaped being affected by the pandemic, writers included. Somehow the experiences of it seeped through onto our work and I feel The Truth and Other Stories is no exception in that regard.' That said, this is not specifically an album about Covid or the pandemic, 'I was fascinated by the concept of 'truth' and intrigued by the concept of everyone having a different version of their truth....a personal viewpoint, their own narrative, their own story. 

The title plays a bit with shades of meaning - a 'counter positioning' if you like. The 'other stories' may challenge the truth, but 'the truth' retains that sense of the absolute. In the songs I hope to present the realities of different characters through short stories. As I moved through the pandemic however, different stories came to light and sometimes the focus would shift. Ultimately though, I have been living with these stories and these characters for some time now.' 

Neilson Hubbard as producer was an obvious choice for O'Neill. A growing relationship with Nashville had seen her writing, playing and developing relationships with the many truly great musicians available across Music City. "Being in Nashville with a producer like Neilson who has such an intuitive feel for that music, and with access to musicians who simply live and breathe it, seemed like a good idea. 

I'd met Neilson a few times through our mutual friend and musician Ben Glover, and it was quickly clear we would get along and had a similar attitude to the music production process. When choosing a music producer, listening to their catalogue of works is crucial, but so too I think is that 'gut feeling' and knowledge that you can connect. When I sent Neilson my music, I knew he 'got it' and I knew I was in safe hands."

My Bit:

I loved Brigid O'Neill's music from the first time I heard it - the crystal pure singing, the arrangements, the song lyrics - the whole production package.  And it has been an absolute pleasure to spend time listening to this excellent new album, which reinforces my admiration for this world-class performer.

Live a Little Lie Oh is a great opener, addictive chorus and a wonderfully gentle beat that we used to call a foot-tapper in the old days. Great intro to an album that draws you in to a world of emotion, humanity, love, loss, faith, spirit, freedom and the myriad truths of life. This is a singer/songwriter at the top of her game.

Easy and Prayers are gently done but that's not to say they lack power.  You're Not Gonna Leave Me Honey takes us down a country road with a fiddle and banjo arrangement to die for.  Messy Path is in the same musical genre, a lovely classic "Nashville" record and no mistake.  Midweek Magic Club is enveloped in a jazz vibe that encourages you to close your eyes and absorb Brigid's voice, like nectar.

The musicians are exemplary. What talent. Jawdroppingly good. 

Shoot. This is an album that raises Brigid O'Neill onto a pedestal that confirms her equality to any female or male artist I can think of. She has joined the greatest of the greats. 

Love it.