Annabelle Chairlegs
Waking Up
TODO Records
Austin-based singer-songwriter Lindsey Mackin, a.k.a. Annabelle Chairlegs, releases her new album, Waking Up, produced by Ty Segal.
Recorded in Topanga, California, the album features Nick Cornetti on drums and Derek Strahan on bass. Waking Up finds Mackin delving into a granular sound decked out with a loose feel.
The album encompasses a dozen tracks. Suggested entry points include the title track, a raw, almost grunge-flavored tune vaguely reminiscent of Janis Joplin because of its visceral edginess.
For some reason, “Ice Cream On The Beach” conjures up memories of Alanis Morissette with its imaginative, alt-rock tangs merged with hints of stylish art pop, adding an inventive sonic motif.
The dark and bluesy “Shoo Fly” rolls out on a fat bassline and grimy guitars as Annabelle Chairlegs struts her vocal range — slipping between high-pitched, almost dissonant tones and wickedly irresistible rasping textures.
A personal favorite because of its rolling, rumbling flow and Cornetti’s stellar drumming (a bit suggestive of Keith Moon), “Sally” offers a slinky, half-sensuous melody that seems to be hanging on by its fingertips to conventional musical sanity. And then loses its grip on the piano solo.
There’s a Latin swagger to “Sword Swallower” that’s contagious and pulls listeners into the milieu, followed by the melody shifting shape as well as tempo. Whereas “Heavy Sleeper” reveals punk energy and momentum merged with gritty alt-rock aspects.
“Beef Witten” closes the album with a song made up of grunge, country, and punk elements, along with here-and-there tremors of blues rock. The melody is thick and viscous, so it kind of droops and drifts and roils and lurches on an appealing motion.
Annabelle Chairlegs’ sound sets itself apart because of its semi-nasty rawness, a kind of devil-may-care grubbiness and looseness that’s not only fresh but avoids any trace of pretension. It’s music that’s fundamental, not fancy. It’s got its own unique charm.
Like a tour of garage rock bands, Waking Up shows off Annabelle Chairlegs’ gift for surrealistic lyrics and elemental soundscaping.
“Patty Get Your Gun” is out today, January 28 — Waking Up is out on Friday, January 30.
