New Orleans singer-songwriter Esther Rose shows off her darkly intimate side with new EP, My Favorite Mistakes (via Father/Daughter Records). Although this release consists of four covers, Rose brings new life into these classic tunes by veteran songwriters Sheryl Crow, Nick Lowe, Hank Williams, and Roy Orbison.
Upon first listen, it is clear that these songs must have been a foundational part of Rose’s musical upbringing. The rising country music star finds the perfect balance of paying homage to the original recordings, while still making these renditions uniquely and unashamedly hers.
Esther Rose first burst onto the scene with her original album, You Made It This Far. On the other hand, the decision to find her own voice in others’ writing on this newest release has solidified Rose’s ability to coax out and soothe universal heartbreak. The EP begins with a rendition of Sheryl Crow’s “My Favorite Mistake” on which Rose takes the classic Crow sound and adds her own twinge of subtle blues with a soft dreamy quality. The whining strings, relaxed drums, and backcountry guitar support her nonchalant delivery of the rocky love story between Crow and Eric Clapton.
Rose then dives into Nick Lowe’s “Blue On Blue”, a tune she had absorbed after hearing it every night on tour with Lowe. While the original utilizes mesmerizingly repetitive instrumental makeup, Rose’s version adds a bit more hype to the mix. She kicks up the tempo and adds driving acoustic guitar. Her voice still harkens back to Lowe’s original, but in moments where he drops to a quiet reflective sound, Rose keeps the thumping drum beat. She is able to still keep the essence of the tune, while lacing in her own carefree attitude.
The penultimate track is one in which Rose gets to dance with one of her songwriting idols, supported by the vocal talents of Lee Walker. On Hank Williams’ “I Can’t Help It (If I’m Still in Love With You)”, Rose and Walker stay incredibly true to his sound, yet they slow down the tune until it’s even more casually heartbreaking than Williams’ original recording. This song paints an image of slow dancing cowboys at a honky-tonk in the hills, Rose and Walker’s vocals bringing out the pain and defeat of Williams’ lyrical genius.
My Favorite Mistakes comes to a sweet yet sorrowful end on its final track, Rose’s rendition of “Blue Bayou” by Roy Orbison, made famous by Linda Ronstadt’s cover. This song has the smallest instrumentation of all, Rose tackling the classic with just her voice and acoustic guitar. It is perfectly in line with today’s emotional climate, and Rose taps into that primal sense of longing to see those you love and be back home in a world you once knew. She softly croons Orbison’s lyrics, “if I could only see / that familiar sunrise / through sleepy eyes / how happy I’d be”.
With this EP, Esther Rose has released one of the more subtle yet poignant albums of 2020. Spinning new webs with timeless string, she adds her unique sound to classic tales of love gone wrong while creating her own powerful masterpiece.
Stream My Favorite Mistakes below via Spotify! To purchase My Favorite Mistakes, click HERE.
Which tracks have you listened to on My Favorite Mistake? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. To keep up with Esther Rose follow her across your favorite social media platforms including Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
