29: Written in Stone [Translucent Green Vinyl]

Carly Pearce named her 2021 project -- an album teased as a mini-LP in February, then delivered in full as 29: Written in Stone in September -- after a tumultuous year in her life, 12 months that saw her get married and divorced and lose her close collaborator busbee to cancer. Pearce found empathetic collaborators in Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, a pair of Nashville heavyweights who help the singer/songwriter process these significant life changes by co-writing a collection of seven songs where she grapples with loss and growth, often in a quiet, introspective fashion. There are exceptions to this rule, of course. With help from Patty Loveless, Pearce sings an effectively gritty tribute to Loretta Lynn, "You're Drinkin', My Problem" is much more effervescent than the title suggests, while the project's lead single, "Next Girl," is a sprightly kiss-off. "Next Girl" is poppy but in a retro sense -- it has none of the bright modern sheen busbee brought to his productions -- and it helps set the stage for six keening, searching autobiographical tunes. While Pearce's lyrics can occasionally be a bit too on-the-nose -- it's not that she delves into personal details, it's that she ties up her messy emotions with a tidy bow -- her vulnerability is endearing, and the craftsmanship, aided by producers Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, is sturdy, so the music retains its appeal even after the stories become familiar. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine