Bethany Cosentino

Pure Catastrophe

Harmony Information

Aug 11, 2023
Internet Unique

By Andy Von Pip

After spending 13 years as songwriter, guitarist and one-half of beloved American surf rock duo Finest Coast, alongside guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Bobb Brun, Bethany Cosentino wanted a change of route. Perhaps to not discover herself per se, however actually to problem herself and uncover who she is as an artist exterior of Finest Coast.

And as one would possibly count on, given her monitor document she’s an artist with a heck of rather a lot to supply. Her voice sounds richer and extra expressive, the hovering melodies are nonetheless there, and there’s a way more reflective high quality, while lyrically she reveals herself to be a masterful storyteller.

The eponymous opening monitor is the right bridge between Finest Coast and what’s on supply right here, hovering melodies, and playful wordplay that contact on relationships, themes of worldwide warming, and solidarity. When Cosentino sings, “And hey, if we’re all dying, then what does it matter? We’re a pure catastrophe,” the approaching apocalypse sounds nearly jaunty.

The earlier single “It’s Nice” has a rustic rock vibe, replete with a sweeping refrain and glowing guitars that recall Sheryl Crow and The Lemonheads. The attractive and touching “Simple” begins as a reflective piano ballad and has a touch of Swiftian magic to it, ” The rollicking “In My Personal Metropolis”, is actually a lower above by-product “songs to truck to” however it does conjure up a way of the escapism and the open highway. The tender “For A Second” showcases the facility and great thing about Cosentino’s voice while ‘Actual Life’ is one other instance of her means to craft magnificence from darkness and is nearly as good as something that Swift and Dessner got here up with on evermore and folklore. And the alt-country and Americana undertones actually do go well with Cosentino’s heat, wealthy vocals, which she employs majestically on the sparse, wistful album nearer “I’ve Bought Information For You.”
(www.bethanycosentino.com)

Creator score: 8/10