An album born out of loyalty to self.
Kathleen Edwards delivers a record that comes back swinging – Billionaire. The record encapsulates the feeling of catching up with an old friend who’s been through the fire or a rough patch, but has now found some peace. Kathleen Edwards proves on this record that she can and still knows how to cut deep with a single line. The record has a clean sound, which is mixed with folk rock elements and a bit more muscle and optimism.
Kathleen Edwards is still doing what she has always done. She is simply telling stories that feel like they were overheard in a diner at midnight or scribbled in one’s deeply personal diary afterwards. The opening track of the record flips the idea of wealth on its head. The track talks about saving your soul through the riches and “value” you find in friendships, purpose and little moments that stick with you for a long time.
There’s a looseness, freeness and overall liberating sound to this record, too. You can hear someone who’s not trying to prove herself anymore. At this point in her career, she is just saying exactly what she means and, more importantly, what she wants. Tracks like “Little Red Ranger” and “Pine” remind you how good Edwards is at producing songs that break your heart in a good way – the type of way that stings.
Billionaire isn’t a reinvention or a change of direction sonically, but it doesn’t need to be, nor should it. It’s Kathleen Edwards doubling down on her strengths as an artist and using her unmistakable voice to her advantage. This time around, it sounds like sitting in a living room with light peeking through the blinds. It’s a record about resilience and clarity and is done in a way that highlights her artistry.
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