Emily Ann Roberts has just been nominated for New Artist of the Year at the CMA Awards. Add that to the other awards and nominations she’s picked up over the last year, and she probably isn’t going to lose much sleep over what some bloke from the West Midlands thinks of her record.
Still, having toured with Thomas Rhett and with a UK run alongside Cody Johnson coming up, she’s back with five tracks that mark her out as something a little different on the crowded country scene.
The title track is arguably more country than much of what her contemporaries are doing. You might expect “Thread” to turn into an empowerment anthem, but she just can’t let go of the bloke who’s left her. There’s something more traditional about that admission, and the bluegrass feel running through these songs suits it perfectly. Heartbreak doesn’t always come with a triumphant ending. Sometimes you’re still hanging on.
There’s an old-time feel to “Lonely Boy”, too, although here she reckons she can do something about the loneliness of the bloke sitting beside her at the bar. Roberts has a lovely voice, and there’s a warmth to this that makes the invitation sound all the more appealing.
“Garden Grow” is perhaps the highlight. It two-steps its way to the honky-tonk with a tale of simple love and the sort of contentment that doesn’t need much money. “Ain’t got it all, but ain’t nothing missing” is the sentiment, and it’s about as idyllic as you like. For a few minutes, that really does feel like enough.
Mostly, though, “Thread” is concerned with clever takes on heartbreak. “When I Do” brings us back to that territory, while “Laundry” makes you wonder whether the bloke from track one has turned up again. He appears to be doing her dirty while she’s doing the washing. Maybe that’s the thread running through the whole thing. Either way, it’s a neat idea, and she makes it count.
Roberts has co-written every track here, and her talent extends well beyond that voice. She’s clearly heading towards the top, but she’s doing it with a greater nod to traditional country than many of her contemporaries. These five songs give her plenty to take with her.
Rating: 7.5/10
