Album Review: Erica Sunshine Lee 'Elixir'

-Tara

Since 2007, Nashville recording artist and Georgia Country’s 2014 Artist of the Year Erica Sunshine Lee has toured the globe, bringing her music to fans in the US, New Zealand, Europe, and Australia. The prolific songwriter, who has penned songs recorded by over a dozen artists, recently released her seventh independent album, Elixir, a sixteen-track collection that mixes ballads and bar room numbers with heart, soul and sass.

Lee kicks things off with “Shut Up Heart” a mid-tempo, emotional plea to her own heart to let go of an old flame. That’s followed by “The Bottle Ain’t Enough” an edgy country rocker that considers rekindling an old flame perhaps just for a night. The fabulous “Karma” (which recalls Miranda Lambert) is a frank, spot-on tune about a female who was once top shelf, but now serves burgers at a fast food establishment. “What the heck are you gonna do now that Karma's an even bigger bitch than you?”

Lee offers a sassy, spirited side on the rousing “Medicated” which chooses getting wasted over wasting tears because “Nobody wants to hear anther sad chick song bitchin about how she got cheated on;”  as well as  “Whiskey Bent and Jail Bound” a guitar heavy story about a guy who can’t seem to stay out of jail; and "Pills and Booze," an  ode to her good friends who take the hurt away .

In addition to those songs brimming with attitude, Lee also has tunes brimming with heart including the incredibly moving “My Favorite Word,” which offers a different perspective on the word goodbye, the stirring ballad “I Don’t Wanna Talk About It” about the need to reconnect in a troubled relationship and the thoughtful “Jesus and Georgia” which considers the desire to stray from one’s roots, but inevitably losing the fight and returning home (the place you might not exactly want to be).

Lee closes out the album with the cleverly written “Drunker,” the high-energy “Two Words,” which offers sage advice to another female, “Taking The High Road,” where she opts to steer clear of the drama and stress, and “Bar Brawl” where the drama she wanted to avoid finds her kicked out of the pub.

Elixir brews heart and passion with catchy hooks and well-written lyrics (that run the gamut from straight up fun to tear at your heart) into a country album that goes down easy. Give it a listen.

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