Ali McGuirk is a singer-songwriter whose smooth, soulful vocals have earned her some renown, particularly in the Boston area. On her first album Slow Burn, she teamed up with Jeffrey Lockhart and other musicians to produce a jazzy album that showcased her vocal talent.
Her new album Til It’s Gone is, like many recent albums, a product of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the pandemic, she said, “we learned a lot in March 2020 about our ability to adapt and I need to believe that it’s going to be alright, but we’ve got to do something right now.” To record the album, McGuirk left her adopted home of Burlington, Vermont for Los Angeles to record with Jonah Tolchin, who co-produced the album. McGuirk mentioned that she was aiming for a sound similar to Little Feat. Tolchin suggested that they give Little Feat guitarist/mandolinist Fred Tackett a call. Tackett was up to the task and laid down a couple parts on the album. The album is firmly rooted in soul, and it is not quite as jazzy as her debut album.
While her previous album was more of a mixture of soul and jazz, Til It’s Gone takes the listener on more of a musical journey. Some songs, like “X Boyfriends,” have backing vocals reminiscent of 90s R&B while other songs have more of an Americana vibe. In “The Work”, McGuirk lays down her signature soulful vocals while Tackett provides a mandolin part that gives the song something of a back-porch feel. Similarly, “Empty Vase” features mandolin and some twangy guitar that wouldn’t be out of place in a country song, which is fitting because you can hear the heartache when she sings “What is love but an empty vase?” “Let It Be You” features organ and backing vocals that give the song a gospel feel while the guitar could just as easily be in a Chris Stapleton song.
Throughout the album, it’s hard not to think about Susan Tedeschi when you hear McGuirk sing. The similarity is especially strong in “All Back”. This is another slow, groovy song where she is backed by vocals that add another interesting layer to the song. While her vocals are always impressive, they seem particularly effortless in this song.
The album comes to a close with “Milk”, which is another example of McGuirk’s versatility. This one includes distorted guitar that gives much more of a rock sound than the rest of the songs and shows that she would be just as good as the vocalist for a rock band.
Til It’s Gone by Ali McGuirk is another showcase for her vocals. She bounces easily from one sound to another, but no matter the style, she provides vocals that are even and powerful. Not only that, but she has the sort of voice that a lot of people would love to have.
