Album Review: Jessica Lea Mayfield Tell Me

Cover for Tell Me. Photo / Supplied

Rating: 4/5

Young Ohio singer-songwriter Jessica Lea Mayfield's bored, melancholy vocals caught the attention of Black Keys' Dan Auerbach when she recorded her very gloomy EP five years ago. The pair have worked together since, with Mayfield lending her voice to The Black Keys and Auerbach producing both her debut and this sophomore release. Like its predecessor, Tell Me comprises Mayfield's winding, country-like stories, wrapped in Auerbach's thick and heavy bluesy melodies - but it feels even weightier this time. That said, despite feeling like its buckling under the weight of some of its subjects and being pounded by the basslines, it's not an intrinsically dark album. Those who like the wide, rustic sound of folk-like singers such as Neko Case and Auerbach's powerful 2010 release should like this one.

-TimeOut