Allison Crutchfield – Tourist in this Town album review: Blending emotional candour with lyrical poise

Abrupt changes in personal circumstances – be they in work, relationships, home, friends, geography, even worldview – can bring about temporary panic. Alabama’s Allison Crutchfield is aware of this, and has, since her annus horribilus, 2015, channelled what she describes as “heightened anxiety” and “clearly defined puzzles” into songs of true experiences.

Previous creative outings with her twin sister, Katie (the mainstay in indie/folk unit, Waxahatchee), gained Allison focus in terms of constructive songwriting, but with her debut album she has clearly advanced.

Akin to setting tour diary notes to new wave/pop/rock/folk-tinged music that could make Jenny Lewis green with envy, Allison blends emotional candour with lyrical poise, and creates cracking tunes from a nimble weaving of crunchy guitars and analogue synthesizers.

[ mergerecords.com/allison-crutchfield ]