Review Summary: Texas by way of NYC
The Bandcamp blurb for Why Bonnie’s debut LP,
90 In November, focuses largely on its inspiration through singer and songwriter Blair Howerton’s pandemic experiences after moving to New York City and her longing for the endless horizon of her native Texas. It’s a fitting introduction to this album, not only because you can feel the nostalgia which seeps through these tunes, but also because the contrast between a densely populated metropolis and the sprawling countryside of a vast state echoes the rather diverse musical influences at play here.
Indeed, the record’s sound eschews easy classification, with Why Bonnie’s identification with dream pop meeting with a number of other strands. Opening track “Sailor Mouth” might begin with the shriek of electric guitar, but its heart is homespun and country-ish, with Howerton’s vocals calling to mind Lucinda Williams’, something which can also be said about its wistful follow-up, “Galveston”. Later tracks take detours, like the vintage slowcore sound of “Silsbee” and the punk-ish energy of “Lot’s Wife”. After the gentle closer “Superhero” closes things out, it’s quite clear that
90 In November is a sonically varied release which should broadly appeal to audiences across the indie music spectrum.
There are a plethora of positives to cite in regards to this album. For a debut, it’s confident and consistent, moving fluidly through a range of styles and executing it all convincingly, while also conveying a sense of emotion. The biggest gripe is that while the album taken together flows nicely and remains engaging, there also aren’t any tunes which make for proper stunners in their own right. That’s ok for now, though.
90 In November should set the stage for Why Bonnie to gain a wider platform, and deservedly so.
