Holly Montgomery
Leaving Eden
(self-released)

“Drunk on the Power” kicks off Holly Montgomery’s new album Leaving Eden. Over its shunking, mid-tempo, staccato stomp, we are quickly grabbed by Montgomery’s low voice and her rockin’ abilities. Buddy Speir’s simple guitar bends and Montgomery’s pretty ivory tickling inform the ballad “Beyond the Veil,” an interesting message-tune, which is one of my favorites. “Jumped the Gun” is a straight-ahead rocker using a subtle combination of harmony vocals, Speir rolling off the main melody, and leading strong. The higher vocal harmony in the verse is especially effective. The title track is a big, angelic ballad, with once again some great use of harmony. It’s obviously the stand-out commercial stab with Speir spiking his most accessible lead over big drums hits. The tune might be a bit drawn out, but it certainly makes its mark as the centerpiece of these nine tracks. I like the single-note noise Speir manages as “Morning Glory” opens with its backward tracking of Montgomery’s vocal layering. As the tune progresses, we get into a trippy vibe, a la “Tomorrow Never Knows.” “Music on the Side” ends Leaving Eden, another tune with another interesting lyric. Here, as often as she does, Montgomery is not afraid of using the full range of her strong, yet not particularly pleasant at times, voice (and I don’t mean that as a dig, Rod Stewart, Neil Young and many others who have voices with this quality), but it works on this cry to Montgomery’s big passion in life. I like the big bell accents here as well. Holly Montgomery is a strong songwriter, singer, and can rock as much as sway.