Molly Burch
Please Be Mine
Reviewed by: Meredith Aristone
Los Angeles bred University of North Carolina graduate, Molly Burch, does not hesitate to bear it all (specifically the most vulnerable contents of her heart) in her debut album, Please Be Mine. Ten emotionally gripping songs come together to paint a picture of love and loss, tinted with the occasional vibrant hues of desire.
After discovering her passion for writing and creating music, Burch retreated from California to North Carolina, where she studied jazz. This ignited a feverish light within that lead her to Austin, Texas, in search of independence, inspiration, and nourishment for her talents.
The record is essentially a retrofied roller coaster of sentiment, combining the romantic twang of Texas with the wanderlust energy of LA. Despite all of the tracks being recorded over the course of a single day, hard work paid off to create an effective display of a vocal range that is as vast and diverse as the two contrasting coasts on which Burch has spent her life frequenting. This seemingly infinite collection of notes is a satiating comfort to the eardrums of an audience eager for melodic consoling, seeking refuge from reality. Hauntingly beautiful and thick like honey, Burch’s elegant rasp floats effortlessly over what is primarily folksy guitar, and slow rhythmic beats with sultry jazz undertones, dipping in and out of falsetto like the Adirondack mountains.
“Please Be Mine”, the track for which the album was named, starts slow, with a distinguishing air of simplicity. Gradually, it climaxes to a chorus that emanates a vibe of angelic radiance, likely for which the addition of delicate background vocals similar to those of Christmas Carolers are responsible. Not unlike many of Burch’s other lyrics, the verses in this anthem detailing a love that never died are straightforward and minimal, never crossing the boundary of excess verbosity. While sparse or plan lyrics are often a downfall of otherwise good music, due to an unfeeling vagueness dominating the effects of the song, Burch actually manages to produce heart-shattering sensation with what she presents. There is an air of desperation, regret, and loneliness lingering between each word, as Burch begs for the return of an ex. The unabashed openness of Burch’s lyricism is a rarity in today’s society, deeming her efforts all the more respectable and refreshing. In addition to this, she manages to get her message across in a powerful way, without relying on specificity to draw listeners into the trap of emotional investment.
Despite this album being a big milestone of “firsts” in Burch’s career, she approaches it with a headstrong attitude, by presenting to the world a piece of artwork so full with fearless depth. In the world of music, Burch is the virgin you’d never suspect had yet to lose it. She is talented and full of a potential that will inevitably demand impact.
Rating: Listenable
