There’s something refreshingly genuine about Lawrence Maxwell’s poetic brand of country. Almost Natural has the Prince Edward Island artist flexing his songwriting muscles in a major way.
Stripped down to their basics, a lot of the songs follow a pretty standard formula for the genre. However, the execution is what makes it special – Maxwell’s flowery vocabulary, the instrumental flourishes. “We Were The Water” is celestial in its imagery and also the world of sound it finds itself in. The references to psychedelics feel fitting given every other component of the song.
Of the many collaborative efforts on this album (Kinley Dowling, Adam Gallant, to name a few), Bridgette Blanchard’s vocals are a standout. “Whiskey Songs” is truly elevated by her presence on it. Her crystalline vocals meld nicely with Maxwell’s low drawl, turning the emotion in this song to something real and tangible. Maxwell calls back to classic “whiskey songs”, of the trouble turning to alcohol can bring during times of strife.
While Maxwell’s storytelling is obviously driven by his well-crafted lyrics, they aren’t the only tool at his disposal. Each song is crafted in a way that lends itself to whatever story he’s trying to tell. In “Unfinished Business”, it’s the way the final pluckings of guitar dip off into uncertainty, leaving the song on a cliffhanger. In “Fruit Flies”, it’s the frantic build that makes us feel like we’re in the middle of one of the arguments between the two main characters.
And “Fruit Flies” certainly is the resident toe-tapper of the album, complete with twang and frantic strings. It has all the classic setup of a typical country cheating song – Maxwell even pokes at the fourth wall and gets self-referential with that term towards the end. However, there’s more plot twists here than an HBO drama. It’s hard not to end this one with either whiplash or a silly grin – possibly both.
For the most part, however, the sound takes a more surreal turn. The old country influences are undeniable, but Maxwell’s modern sensibilities morph these influences into something unique. Almost Natural becomes a fitting name for the album when you realize the line Maxwell walks – mundane moments from the past, frozen in time and turned supernatural in their immortality. Whether that’s the stories told on the album or the endurance of the genre is open to interpretation.