a personal review of Angie McMahon's "Salt" by CEO Alexa Ace
Photo Credit: Paige Clark
I was scrolling through a random ass Courtney Barnett Spotify radio when I first heard Angie. I was immediately drawn to her wit, grit, and softness all simultaneously packed into three hyper-sensitive minutes — the single is called “Slow Mover,” and to this day I have it on repeat.
Well, until her album came out last week.
Now I’m just fucking hooked. This is a personal review given I felt it important to share the extensiveness of my likings. It’s almost the same feeling I got when first discovering Angel Olson’s “Intern” in 2015, or Mothers “Too Small for Eyes” in 2016. Angie McMahon is the bluesy guitarist we need to bring us down to earth, tell us like it is, but also be reminded to pick up a book every once in a while.
Photo Credit: Paige Clark
I almost get Brandi Carlile vibes when blaring Angie’s voice throughout my entire house. “Missing Me” was the second song I related to on the album, and the second song I ever heard by her. She subtly throws in that she’s “tired of being your sweetheart,” and I think in this day and age most women feel the same way. I’m so fucking tired of anyone calling me sweetheart, like have you seen me at 8am with two hours of sleep and zero coffee? No, thanks.
Then there was “Push,” my god, Push. This is the song right now. The song I’ve cried to, felt empowered by, and truly played on every stereo system near me. I must have sent it to 20 different people by now. From softness into darkness and shades of sporadic rhythm changes, Angie has a few cracks in her voice towards the beginning of the song that make me fall so in love. I took my fucking fake nails off so I could plug her up, and play my guitar again. Push is the chilling song you feel on the back of your eyelids when you’re in public and don’t want to cry. You push through it, until you can be alone and scream about it. She screams about it, and moves on.
Photo Credit: Paige Clark
Photo Credit: Paige Clark
My last two favorites are “Pasta,” and “and I am a Woman.” I’ll be damned if I don’t hop on a plane and experience her music live soon. This Aussie is on the top of my radar, and if you get a chance to listen please let me know what you think. I’m betting big bucks on Angie McMahon.
with love,
AA
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Alexa Ace, CEO / Founder
