Pop-country singer
RaeLynn proves herself a double threat on her debut EP. After placing third in the 2012 season of The Voice (as a member of
Blake Shelton's team), the Texas-born singer was signed to Dr. Luke's Prescription Songs as a songwriter before Republic Nashville added her to its roster as a recording artist. Of the five tracks on
Me, she co-wrote four. The production is standard contemporary country with highly compressed electric guitars, shimmering acoustics, banjo, and stacks and stacks of backing vocals, and beats synthetic and organic, with an accordion thrown in for good measure. Her Texas drawl everywhere apparent, all the songs reflect a sassy, steely sense of determination, whether in a personal manifesto ("Kissing Frogs") or that of a shameless, man-stealing predator ("Boyfriend"). Her attitude is as brazen as the melodies are obvious here.
RaeLynn's
Me EP should play well to fans of slicker-than-slick hook-laden pop-country. ~ Thom Jurek