Sara Petite is a singer-songwriter from San Diego that has the roots of country music running through her. She can sound as feisty as Loretta Lynn and Wanda Jackson, and she is just as good at portraying heartache as Patsy Cline. It’s practically impossible to listen to her albums without feeling something. If you have that experience, you might be the only one.
Her new album is The Empress, and it shows not only her roots in country music but also in rock and roll. Of the title track, she said, “The Empress comes from the idea that our world is out of balance. Everything’s gone off-kilter, and we all need that mix of feminine and masculine energies in our bodies.The more that women are respected and held to the same level of importance as men, the better off we’re all going to be.”
The album kicks off with “God Save the Queen,” but it’s not a cover of the Sex Pistols song. Instead, it is a plea to save the earth. However, it carries plenty of punk sound in the guitar. It also carries a punk attitude, like when Petite sings “I am the queen. I am the witch. I am the ruler and the bitch.” On top of that, the instrumental break begins with three chords that sound very much like a punk band that is just getting started playing in someone’s garage. Whoever decided to make this the first track made a sound decision. It is a great way to hook the listener into what comes next.
“Forbidden Fruit” is another uptempo gem. The song is propelled by a piano part that makes it nearly impossible to remain still. That being said, it is a song that works just fine without a dance partner when you just want to shake it by yourself on the dance floor of a honky-tonk. “That Was You and Me” has an infectious boot-stomping beat and a tempo that makes this a perfect song for dancing. In fact, it is so catchy that you may not realize the lyrics tell the story of a relationship gone bad. Or maybe you will notice and that that will only add to your desire to dance to this one.
On the flipside of those uptempo stompers, Petite shows that she is just as adept at slower songs that pull at your heartstrings. “Tread Softly” is a song that goes heavy on the pedal steel and tells the story of a woman in love who wants to be vulnerable to her partner’s touch. However, there is plenty of fear and fragility in her plea for love when she implores, “Tread softly on this heart of mine.”
Another song in the emotional vein is “The Mistress”. In it, the narrator likens a loved one’s battle with alcoholism to a mistress. Of brandy, she says, “She’s gonna be the death of you and me.” It is a profound and impactful song similar to “Joey” by Concrete Blonde. Both tell the story of someone who is self-destructive and both are told from the point of view of a person who would love to end the downward spiral they are witnessing, but ultimately feel helpless. On the one hand, it is a good song for slow dancing. On the other hand, it is sad enough to break your heart.
The Empress by Sara Petite is the sort of album that gets better with every listen. Petite creates strong characters and tells stories that are sure to make you feel something. She can get you to dance while delivering lyrics that reach right into your soul.
