LOUISE BURNS plays Supermarket June 18, 9 pm, as part of NXNE. See listing. Rating: NNNN
There’s a warm familiarity to the songs on Louise Burns’s phenomenal debut album, which draws heavily from 50s and 60s classic pop songwriting. The Vancouver musician and former member of teen girl rockers Lillix, who were signed to Madonna’s Maverick label, infuses her straightforward, open-hearted tunes with a chill vibe reminiscent of a folkier, deeper She & Him. Her plaintive vocals evoke Stevie Nicks and, at her more country moments, June Carter.
Also well judged is the production. Perfectly placed handclaps (or maybe snare hits) on the reverby What Do You Wanna Do conjure sipping milkshakes next to the diner jukebox Drop Names Not Bombs’ light piano lines add a wistful edge the spare Island Vacation gets an unexpected wall-of-sound twist Paper Cups’ garage-rock riffs are major fun. And then comes a breathtaking cover of Leonard Cohen’s The Gypsy’s Wife.
Supposedly, Burns spent a long time soul-searching after her time in Hollywood. This album proves she’s found her way.
Top track: What Do You Wanna Do
