Erin McCarley Issue #38

Love, Save the Empty (Universal Republic)

By Jennifer Jeffery
Published: December 1st, 2008 | 12:00am

Finding out that singer-songwriter Erin McCarley recorded her debut, Love, Save the Empty, in Nashville is startling — instead of the slide guitars and violins typically associated with country music, McCarley’s debut swings heavily into indie pop territory.

So how does a Texas-bred up-and-comer, who currently rests her head in Tennessee, turn out an album that even iTunes can’t classify? By creating an autobiographical journey that flows like a soundtrack for anyone who has loved and lost. McCarley pens the perfect words to describe fear, loss, nostalgia, and moments of euphoria that anyone — male or female — can relate to.

The opening piano on “Pony (It’s OK)” immediately feels childlike and wistful, but then the chorus kicks in, and McCarley’s voice resonates like Fiona Apple’s with a softer, yet musky appeal. On “Lovesick Mistake,” her lyrics are raw as she ponders how to cope with the pain of heartbreak (“How do I slow down? / I can’t relate to my heart now”); while on “Hello, Goodbye” and “Bobblehead,” she displays her musicianship and knack for creating solid hits.

Grey’s Anatomy, Privileged, One Tree Hill, and future film He’s Just Not That Into You have been taken with the refreshingly empowering McCarley. And no wonder — with heart on sleeve and guitar in hand, she’s possibly created a new genre of music: Honest.

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