Shannon McArdle
(Bar/None)
Not unlike a golden-voiced phoenix rising from the flames of what was the brilliant Mendoza Line and the ashes of Shannon McArdle’s marriage to ML front man, Timothy Bracy, the hoary cliché of Hell hath no Fury like a woman scorned could be the over-riding theme of Summer of the Whore. McArdle herself says, “This is not a happy album,” but these songs are not about wrath as much as they are about deep pain and betrayal. While that sounds like something that might make many want to quietly tiptoe from the room, it’s actually more of a slow down and rubberneck the carnage event, and Summer represents the emotional reckoning of the most damaged victim of the crash.
McArdle keeps maturing as singer/songwriter and fans that loved her efforts with ML will be thrilled to find that familiar sound here. Song titles that telegraph the album’s contents include: “Poison My Cup,” “Leave Me For Dead,” “He Was Gone,” “I Was Warned” and “This Longing.” “Leave Me For Dead” has a “These Boots Are Made For Walking” sentiment with in-your-face guitar, while “I Was Warned” has a breathy delivery with a confiding quality. Edgy but deeply intoxicating, Summer repays the listener’s time spent with each successive spin.
Standout Tracks: “Paint The Walls,” “This Longing” BARRY ST. VITUS
