Album Review: Elyse Saunders, Free

Elyse Saunders has had a busy past few months gaining a lot of attention and for very good reason. Whether through international songwriting competitions, which she ended up as a semi-finalist, or cracking Top 10 and Top 5 lists coast to coast, Saunders is prime for that next step.

Her six-pack of sonic offerings here play to her strengths for the most part. The lead off title track is a well-produced three-minute summery tune that has a big beer-raising chorus that brings to mind The Chicks.  The ensuing, fun-filled, carefree, horn-tinged "Sunshine State of Mind" has the Toronto area artist making Sheryl Crow envious.

The highlight of the EP is "Genes" which is a cavity-inducing, just-hit-repeat country pop ditty she shines on immediately. Saunders slows things down with the mid-tempo "Wine Down" that has her in full control, not belting out the lyrics but playing to the song's melodic blueprint. But the quirkier "Famous" grows on the listener slowly thanks to its off-kilter groove.

Overall, it's a wonderful and refined collection of tunes compiled here. To take a line from one of the songs, Elyse Saunders will have her name in lights soon enough crafting material like this.

Free was released October 21, 2021
Listen to it here.