Good Lovelies - Let the Rain Fall

Let the Rain Fall (Six Shooter Records/Warner Bros., 2011)

While the US had its sweethearts Doris Day and the Andrew Sisters, Canada presents its own version of the musical girls next door, better known as Good Lovelies. This trio, like the Wailin’ Jennys, blends their sweet-honeyed voices on songs that swing. But unlike the Wailin’ Jennys, there’s not a prairie in sight. Good Lovelies perform urban grass songs that portray women getting around a city on bikes, and the simplicities of domestic life on their third album, Let the Rain Fall. With these adorable ditties and toe-tapping tunes, even us poor folks living under rain clouds for 6 months feel uplifted.

The album’s warm production features lap steel, guitar, Wurlitzer (organ), bass, drums, mandolin, and harmonica. But the instrumentation merely offers a backdrop for the vocal harmonies and the stories featured in each of the songs. While the music feels delightful, the lyrics seem too simplistic at times, even if they exude charm in a Doris Day vein. And the odd thing is when I listen to this album, Doris Days face glows in my thoughts. Even the album’s title conjures up images of the Hollywood classic, ‘Singing in the Rain’. Love and romance with the domestic woman plays a role here too. Take a listen to the love song Best I know, or the jaunty ditty Kiss Me in the Kitchen.

Let the Rain could have easily fallen into coyingly cute territory if it wasn’t for the gorgeous harmonies, the unforgettable melodies, humor, and hearty blue grass swing that fuels this album. I recommend this album to fans of bands featuring female harmonies and of urban grass (bluegrass music by urban musicians). If you have grown tired of living under gloomy clouds, these women will brighten your day with their girl next door smiles and songs about everyday living.