Recommended Tracks: “Skylark”, “Checkmate”, “Not the Girl”
Artists You May Like: Kacey Musgraves, Jade Bird, Maggie Rogers
A flannel-clad man in the mountains, a boy who wears tight jeans to impress girls, and an insecure woman named Jane. Besides being featured characters in your classic horror movie or teen dramedy, what could these three random people have in common? It turns out that they all have made an impact on Canadian singer-songwriter Annabel Gutherz. Unable to move past certain memories she has of these people and moments where she never quite spoke her piece, Annabel used her songwriting skills to find clarity and close the door on these open-ended parts of her life. In doing so, she gives us an authentic and colorful debut album Loose Ends.
Speaking from her heart, Annabel acknowledges times when she felt love in her life. On opening track “Mountain Man,” she gushes about a guy who is “a drummer in a band that doesn’t have a name yet” and wears a “flannel shirt and ripped, faded jeans.” We get that he is a guy who would prefer to live a rustic lifestyle in the mountains, but learn that he would also move mountains for those he loves. The romance is just as strong on “Skylark,” where dandelions, stars, and singing skylarks indulge the senses. Annabel reminisces, “Every time I think of you / My heart, it skips a beat or two,” getting lost in her dreamy summer memories.
As much as we could listen to Annabel sing these lovely songs all day, they only make up one aspect of her life. There are times when she has watched friends change or has had to deal with people she does not like, which she shares throughout the album. On the country rock track “Jane,” for instance, Annabel confronts a classmate who only wanted to tear her down. Annabel gets the final word, singing, “Filled with insecurity / You started spreading your lies / Spiteful and conniving ways / You will not be my demise.” We get similar observations on “Checkmate” and “Remnant,” where we hear about fallouts with close friends. We find out more about Annabel’s character through these songs, even though she focuses on others.
There are songs that are a bit more personal and direct, though, revealing her complex nature. Annabel can be strong and determined one minute, as she describes on “Wild Side,” but also sensitive and vulnerable the next, as she reveals on “Breathing Under Water” and closing track “Fragile.” Also not one for games and gimmicks, as mentioned on “Not the Girl,” Annabel fills us in on where she stands with guys who are a bit extra. She protects her heart from the deception, singing, “My heart’s not an instrument / Won’t let it be played by you,” establishing that she will not be impressed or fooled. In the end, she is just trying her best and enjoying life at her own pace, inspiring others to do the same.
Overall, Loose Ends is a pure, intimate coming-of-age album that does well to introduce us to who Annabel is as a person and as an artist. She knows how to use her voice, giving us tracks that display her unique vocals, as well as tracks that flaunt her songwriting skills. There are also songs that can please a variety of listeners, ranging from indie folk lovers to country pop enthusiasts. As long as she continues to believe in herself and stay connected to the world around her, we are sure to get more amazing music from Annabel in the future.
You can listen to Loose Ends on platforms like Apple Music and Spotify.
Keep up with Annabel Gutherz: Instagram // Facebook // Twitter // TikTok // Website
