Music Review: Emily Wells – Mama

Released: April 2012
Label: Partisan Records
Website: http://www.emilywellsmusic.com/
Reviewed by: Laura Spurlock

Emily Wells is known as the child prodigy who was raised by French Horn playing parents. Her musical abilities span from being classically trained on violin to playing drums, keys and basically anything you place in front of her. In “Mama,” you are able to understand how musically smart Wells really is. With much of ‘Mama’ being recorded in only one take in a cabin Wells rented on a horse ranch, one can see the skeleton of ‘Mama’ as a  raw folk and R&B infused tale. You can hear her long-lived violin talent in the third track entitled “Passenger” through her perfect staccato plucking and smooth legato behind the perfectly constructed R&B beat. Throughout ‘Mama,’ Wells jumps from song to song with great articulation and precision often telling stories of love and grief. You can hear some interesting layering and creativity with sound in the fifth track  entitled ‘Johnny Cash’s Mama’s House’ and the eighth track entitled ‘No Good.’ Listen to ‘Mama’ and you won’t be underwhelmed. Wells’ sweet and enchanting voice is more delicious than a watermelon flavored popsicle on a hot summers day.