Alyse Black’s fourth full-length cuts into distinct halves. The first, which plays like an anthology of Nineties pop vocalists, seems guided by producer Eric Rosse, who’s behind female singer-songwriter greats such as Sara Bareilles and Tori Amos. The collaboration epitomizes best in slick lead-off “My Body Is Burning,” with Black’s throaty alto carrying the timbre of Jewel and peppering in spoken asides à la Alanis Morissette. Then, “Won’t Let You Down,” the seventh track of 10 on Alyse Black, signals a shift to blues-tinged confessionals. That’s where the singer shines. Where Black’s voice feels constrained in pop, it rises above the gentle thrumming of guitar lines and warbly electric organ to a full blast of blues on “Make Love + Laughter,” navigating her impressive range from falsetto to belting and back with ease. Although her voice transfixes throughout the album, it’s the latter portion that’s truly intoxicating.
This article appears in Austin’s Most Eligible Dogs.