Ok it's been a while since I've highlighted or reviewed a single album but when my vinyl arrived this week for Sarah King's 2024 releases "When It All Goes Down" That's when I settled down and actually listened carefully a couple times to the album and left me saying, "What the heck, why wasn't I listening to this album all summer" Yes I had it since April 2024 and really hadn't listened to it. That's one of the problems I have because I buy so much music, I tend to lose focus and can leave many songs without being played. I've loved Sarah's music for a while witnessed by her nine appearances in the blog. My penance for to listening to this album was first to add it to Discogs and second write one of my lately rare reviews while I was listening to the album over and over. That's what brings us here; let's start with other people are saying.
With the perfect balance of polish and raw energy, King melds her blues-rock band roots and the dark-country-tinged sound of her more recent solo EP The Hour, throwing in a soupcon of pop and vintage R&B stylings. The result is When It All Goes Down, her full-length solo debut album (independently released and mainly funded by a successful Kickstarter).
The album reaches some fiery heights, but it starts with a slow smolder on “Lord Take My Soul,” at first a plea for salvation that soon ramps up in intensity and becomes more of an invitation to join the narrator in sin: “Your god can’t catch you if I lead you off that ledge…”
Carol also was the person who introduced me to Sarah's music, and she picked this album in her top ten favorites for 2024. Rainbow Rodeo Mag wrote:
Whether King is telling off an abusive ex, vowing to rise again, or powering through a rousing Led Zepplin cover, the theme here is knowing yourself more than anything. That’s why the disco groove of “Stronger Than You Ever Knew” feels of a piece with the bluesy seduction of “Lord Take My Soul” and the freewheeling Zep song “Hey Hey What Can I Do.”
Amongst the assertiveness is the dark tendril of substance abuse and its impact on relationships. “Whiskey Thinking” is one of the most vulnerable songs on the album, showcasing the purity of King’s voice — a wrenching plea as the narrator succumbs to decisions she knows she should not make. Contrasted with “Pretty Things,” a slow burner about the dangers of a partnership that is too tempting, and we find King turning the tables as the lover who knows they will do the hurting, rather than be hurt.
Last time I got to hug Sarah was after she won the Great River Folk Fest Songwriter contest in 2023, here she was playing the main stage later. This song Nightstand has the infamous line "music to bury a body by" and it was in her ep release "The Hour"
Sarah would have played the 2024 festival, but Sarah has gone through some health issues and had surgery and treatment for thyroid cancer. She is booked to play the 2025 festival. So let's enjoy the album:
1) Lord Take My Soul
All but two tracks were penned by Sarah, and this gospel rocker; and I don't know who's on their knees Sarah, God or the Devil. No music lover is suffering from her pains, we're rejoicing of course as she starts it with a slow plea and then picks up the pace.
2) Alway and Almost
Love to sway to this and listen to this with headphone to appreciate the organ in the right channel and the keys in the left.
It's been a while but if a video exists for a song, I will add it to this post. There is an official one to the studio and track; buy you know me if there is a stripped down one I tend to lean to those. Here Sarah explains to NPR the inspiration and plays it so smoothly on that red Gibson.
3) When It All Goes Down
Sarah has it over to Josh Cournoyer to rock out some great lead chops to this great indie rock blues, and I love the conga percussion in the mix.
Much more bluesy solo.
4) The Longest Night
Any song that starts "Oh Darlin'" gets my undivided attention; and Sarah gives a run down on the current state of love affair.
Alright let's break up the pattern and go with lyric video Sarah posted so you can read along.
5) Blame it on the Booze
Dark and struggling with addiction is what Sarah writes about (like The Hour's "Not Worth the Whiskey"), but I have had great positive conversations with her over tea (but don't tell anyone). This is really one of the best songs on the album.
6) Stronger Than You Ever Knew
A soft love is wrapped inside this song as it builds to more of a climax.
7) You Were Wrong About Me
Sarah hits back to a schmuck, and it feels so good.
Oh yeah I forgot about this video with the antique Mustang... loved it back when released, and love it again. Now how the hell did her hat stay on?
8) Hey Hey What Can I do
Now thanks to Sarah I know a Black Sabbath (War Pigs) and a Led Zeppelin song much better (yes wasn't a big fan of either) but she owns this Zeppelin song; and DANG the video is so hot and sultry - enough said or I'll start blushing because I consider her a friend since the fest. The cover art seems to make an appearance in this video too... watch for it.
Another early released single, and can we say it comes from that dark hallway to a point where her visualize video has a very pretty Atomic bomb cloud. Yikes.
Pretty things are deadly But not for you, my love I’ll keep you here beside me Til we’re called to heaven above
11) The Moth
I love this song's rhythm contrast and with such a smooth bass and touch of an organ; it's perfect texture for the album mix.
12) Devil's Try
Scotty Hawkins is credited with writing this song that has prison chain gang rhythm, and with background vocals to accentuate the mood. Again the bass work on the song is impeccable. Sure snap your fingers with the rest of the group.
Perfect way to end the review with a video that has clips of Sarah live and in the studio. She rocks, and if you made it to this point, think about buying one of those fancy red marble vinyls from her on the website; https://sarahkingsings.com/ Hey there is no one click YouTube playlist for an album review, but I bet this Bandcamp one would work to listen to the whole album once or twice before they politely ask you to buy and support the artist.
Next steps:
- Stop over to the Review page to my other most spinned and loved albums.
- Browse the rest of the blogs by stopping at this "Theme Page."
- Enjoy Tune Tuesday which brings you one song from a past blog post.
- See what other post have been most popular recently with our Stats Page.
- Find out who in the world thinks he has the authority to write this blog in the About.
- Let me answer why you won't find the playlists on Spotify here.
- Finally, the Mission page explains why there is no advertising cluttering the page.
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