Stella
Stella Donnelly is back with more polish and songwriting maturity on Love and Fortune. From the outset the album sets a standard and doesn’t flinch, nor does Donnelly with her candid, confessional storytelling.
Backed by an excellent band, the album is tight, well produced and navigates the full range of Stella’s arsenal – from catchy guitar pop to electronic synth driven exploration, often in the same song.
Opening track Standing Ovation shows this in full force. Honest lyrics about teen love over a ‘verby synth hook, starting out slow dance before suddenly kicking into the jangly pop Stella is known for.
The album continues the balance of guitar driven, synthy introspect throughout. Being Nice, clocking in at 1:41, is short, sweet, poppy, and full of lyrical sharpness. Feel It Change pangs with relationship problems (“I love you baby, but I’m scared to be near ya”) backed by catchy guitar licks.
Folky a cappella follows with Baths, another short one at 1:48. Memories of family life, with the smallest hint of synth swirling in the background.
In Please Everyone she sings “I offered up my shoulder you could lean upon, but you climb right on”, then takes a turn reversing who’s leaning on who; it’s quality, soul open songwriting.
The best part of the album comes in the gentle but still catchy combination of Ghosts and Love and Fortune. Ghosts is a gorgeous drifting tune with Stella’s vocals backed by an infectious piano lick.
I can imagine a crowd singing along to the title track. It creeps up on you and once she starts singing “Love and fortune, wait in the hallway to greet you” you are hooked. It’s a soft track so we’re not talking anthem singalong, more like everyone swaying along and singing with all their hearts.
The album closer, Laying Low, is a highlight of Donnelly’s juxtaposition of sweetness and slightly unstable melodies. A synth riff driving the verses creates that tension, but Donnelly’s vocals ground the song and lead into her classic style of chorus.
Love and Fortune is an excellent record and a sign of an evolving artist, letting it all out as she has always done, while also allowing us all in to share the catharsis in great, catchy indie pop music.
Leave a Reply