Advance Review - Mara Connor: No Fun EP (April 3, 2020) via Side Hustle Records
There's something warm in the sound of Mara Connor's new EP No Fun. It's got a tinge of throwback to it, with a foot firmly placed in modern folk. If you're looking for a comp for Mara Connor, I would say Jenny Lewis is a pretty good one. As a Jenny Lewis fan, that's high praise. Specifically, Lewis' sound is the only artist's that I've ever referred to as "gold". That is, it has a certain warmth to it. Mara Connor is the second artist that I've ever gotten that vibe from.
No Fun is a four track EP with three originals and a Rayland Baxter cover and it doesn't pull any punches. The sound Connor achieves is absolutely transcendent. Melodically it has the warmth of a tube amp and the bite of a good bourbon. It's hard to pick a favorite track on the EP as they are all strong. If you held a gun to my head, I'd say "Wildfire". It's got the weight that would make it feel in place on a Scorsese soundtrack.
The Southern California singer/songwriter has already shared a track with Langhorne Slim and enjoyed attention from Rolling Stone and The Chicago Tribune. She also has had the opportunity to play SXSW. Given that this is Connor's debut, I'd have to say the sky is the limit. With her talent, she seems destined to be a force to be reckoned with on the Americana scene. Listen early and listen often, No Fun drops everywhere Friday.
Rating - 5/5
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