I was probably joking when I said that the Rum Bar Records roster would eventually include every great Boston band or artist. But at the rate Lou is bringing local talent into the fold, I just might have been right! Out now on Rum Bar is I Will Let You Know, the latest album from Abbie Barrett. As a solo performer, Barrett has been a fixture of the Boston music scene for a decade and a half. An extraordinary vocalist and a fantastic songwriter to boot, Barrett is backed by some of the most stellar players in the Boston scene: Mike Oram on guitar, Ed Valauskas on bass, and Rice Edmonston on drums. I want to say that Barrett joining the Rum Bar family is a big deal, but that feels like an understatement!
In typical Abbie Barrett style, I Will Let You Know delivers great song after great song in a way that transcends genre. It's comprised of songs which were originally released as singles between 2018 and last year. Put together, these tracks make for one nifty mini album. This release comes out blazing with a pair of stone cold hits in the title track (featuring Greg Hawkes-ish keyboard work from Greg Hawkes himself!) and "Better Machine" -- both songs imbuing classic new wave pop influences with a rocking & modern edge. If "Reconcile" reminds me of Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents, that's hardly surprising considering Barrett and Valauskas' involvement in that band. But just when you think you've stumbled upon the best new wave record in years, I Will Let You Know takes some wonderfully surprising turns. "Dirty Work," a cover of the Steely Dan classic, manages to capture the warm '70s vibes of the original even as Barrett transforms it in her own unique way. "Blood & Bone" is a soaring modern rock epic. The introspective and haunting "The Light" is surely the first song I've ever heard that uses actual frog trills as percussion (quite effectively, I must say!). Fans will recognize closing track "Here To Stay" as the opening track from 2014's The Triples. This newer version of an old favorite brings this album to a powerful & anthemic conclusion.
Far from just one of Boston's local treasures, Abbie Barrett is one of the most talented singers and songwriters in the contemporary indie rock world. Her back catalog, available from Bandcamp and Spotify, is well worth tracking down. I Will Let You Know is your perfect starting point. It's yet another essential release from the best record label out there!
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