Album Review: Jenny Gill 'The House Sessions'

Sometimes when you have a famous family member or two, it’s difficult to forge your own way, but Jenny Gill has no issue doing just that on her debut project, The House Sessions. Merging the Blues, Country, and more, the six song self-penned autobiographical collection begins with the incredibly sweet and soulful “Lonely Lost Me,” which with its divine 70’s groove, conveys the contentment of finding the one, “Like a broken record I was stuck in a groove and skipping over the scratches instead of changing the tune, but that vinyl now is shining, it’s like I’m all brand new.” The romantic “Look Where Loving You Landed Me” continues, and captures, that theme with picture perfect lyrics, “I was a bluebird flying around in circles with my head in the clouds, then I found you and couldn’t wait to get my feet on the ground” while “Lean on Love” (recalling Bonnie Raitt) infuses bluesy-gospel influences on a tune that encourages following the heart, and letting love lead the way.

Gill rounds out the short set with “Whiskey Words,” an airy ballad that finds her wishing an ex would reach out when he’s sober, and the intensely personal “Your Shadow” on which Gill opens up about her insecurities growing up with her famous father [Vince Gill] and pursuing her own musical career, “… terrified that I’m reaching too high and someone will say I’ll never compare and I’ll pour my heart out and no one will care/So I’ve got to find a dream that’ll shine on its own in the light of your shadow,” before closing with the funky, “The Letter.”

With The House Sessions, Gill delivers a genuinely lovely EP that finds her successfully carving a place for herself that’s individual as she is.

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