Caitlin Rose
The Stand-In
Reviewed by: Michele Zipkin
Caitlin Rose brings us a dose of her beautiful, forlorn melodies and sweet singing with her latest project, The Stand-In. She has made quite a name for herself as a country/blues artist, with seeming emphasis on those wistful yet hopeful ballads, drawing vocal comparisons to Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn.
The upbeat and electric “No One to Call” kicks off the record, a song that will most likely spark some dancing despite the fact that it’s really a sulking number with Rose moping about things never going her way. It has one of those vintage country-sounding melodies that will probably get stuck in your head. The ear almost knows where the melody will go, it’s warm and familiar. In listening to some of these songs, you get a feeling that you’ve heard them before, yet they’re still undeniably new. “I Was Cruel” is quite charming, with its slightly down and out melody, banjo arpeggiating in the verse, and pedal steel guitar providing that smooth, bittersweet twang.
“Waitin'” picks up the pace slightly in a little ominous minor key and harpsichord makes some single-line flourishes. The song’s darkness stands to reason considering the subject matter- broken hearts. “Only a Clown” is pretty upbeat and sing-along-worthy for a song that seems contemplative for some reason. Its melody in the chorus is particularly poppy and so are the words- “Put your record on, let the band play a song all about love and believin’, good for you cause if that’s true it’s only a clown that’s leavin”.
“Menagerie” has the beat of a ‘60s pop song with a country melody, which makes it fairly unique. It’s one of the few uplifting songs on the album, reeling you in right away with that pounding kick drum and infectious melody introduced by the guitar. The last number, “Old Numbers”, truly stands out due to it’s vintage jazz-inspired intro and subsequent theme, embodied mostly by the swelling and sexy muted trumpet. This song is really special- it’s written in an old and unmistakable style, but still has an original melody.
Rose’s melodies and lyrics have a certain classic element that makes them prime to stand the test of country/folk time. Songs like “Everywhere I Go” and “Pink Champagne” are perfect to put a smile on a glum face. Even “Waitin’” might do the trick. She is quite skilled at writing songs that heal the heart, even if they are songs rooted in heartbreak.
