Amanda McCarthy boasts a surreal calm and a lived-in glow that dispels turmoil and the quiet sadness that resonates throughout her latest project. The beauty and unshakable warmth at the core of her breezy compilation acts as the filter to her own world, a safe space she has created within which she can evaluate her relationships with others and herself.
Road Trip the debut full-length album from Amanda McCarthy features tunes that can take the edge off the harsh realities of our lives as she gleams over subject matters that detail our shortcomings. It is an undertaking by the singer-songwriter to smooth over the cracks in an attempt to portray that perfect moment, to cushion the blow and provide protection for ourselves while providing a disguise for those looking in.
“Idaho” provides an easing introduction to the album. Her lyrics are subtler and more shaded; the guitars strings are more plentiful and detailed, and she croons with such hushed mourning that she sends the song skyward. Amanda McCarthy doesn’t hold back on her sad feelings, but the thought here is that there is a captivating beauty that needs to be set free, like a bird that can never truly belong to you.
From high energy tracks such as “Elephant In The Room” and “Fusion” to slow jams like “On The Border” and “Tiki Bar” the fourteen-track project radiates an ageless confidence, serenity and love from an artist unconcerned with the hands of time and bittersweet memories. Ultimately, she overpowers darkness with light through her lyrics and pits her varied emotions against each other until good wins over evil.
There is a thread of enchanting authenticity and a dedication to craft that weaves its way through the album, Road Trip. Its swirling dream-like rock instrumentation evokes a level of finesse that permeates the soul with thrilling unpredictability and leaves a sense of awe within the audience. These beautiful songs offer the listener a brief respite from the daily grind to catch their breath and find their own peace and understanding in relationships and life.
