Louise Mosrie

Louise Mosrie: Budding yet seasoned songwriter Mosrie has a unique perspective on the South, as much a part of it as an outside observer, but with a voice and storytelling ability that rivals most established songwriters. - The Beachcomber

HOME

Zoe Cat Music

****/out of 5

Award-winning Tennessee-based and bred writer scores a HOME run

Louise Mosrie was among the annual half-dozen winners of the 2009 Kerrville Folk Festival’s New Folk Songwriting Contest. Released at the beginning of the year, HOME, which she co-produced, is this Nashville-based musician’s latest recording. A finalist in the (folk oriented) Song Contest on the Singer-Songwriter Stage at this year’s Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival, Louise scored one of the award winning top four places.

The familial themed album title song opens this collection of thirteen Mosrie originals and co-writes. The funky sounding backdrop to God Lives In Arkansas, a song inspired by an Ozark Mountain detour that Louise and her husband undertook on the way home from a wedding in Oklahoma, will doubtless remind long-in-the-tooth readers of Bobbie Gentry’s 1967 crossover hit Ode To Billie Joe. Mosrie’s southern gothic portrait is energetically supported by the raunchy harmonica and vocal chords of Stepchild’s Emil Justian. Scott Neubert (acoustic guitar, Dobro), Byron House (bass) and Butch Simmons (drums) furnish the rhythmic backbone to most of the selections, others pickers who contributed to the recording sessions include album co-producer Jon Young (electric bass), Matt Combs (fiddle) and Donna Ulisse (vocals), one of Louise’s co-writers.

One of three songs co-written with Mike Richardson, The Battle Of Blair Mountain recalls the week long, organised armed uprising that involved over 10,000 West Virginia miners. This 1921 strike led to the partial recognition of labour unions by mine owners, and gave rise to the term ‘redneck’ because of the red bandana worn by the miners. Set in current times the Backroads and Fly lyrics merge themes already explored in Home and God Lives In Arkansas—the climactic line in Backroads being: ‘Daddy lived in the country till the day he died, Now I’ve come to understand why.’ The bittersweet Maybe I’m Your Angel finds this Tennessean reveal her tender side, while a failed relationship forms the focus in the ensuing Ulisse co-write Don’t Come Looking For Me.

Blackberry Winter is a (Southern) term describing a short cold spell that coincides with the time blackberries are in bloom. Co-written with Mike Richardson their tuneful collaboration of the same name follows in the wake of similarly titled recent odes by David Mead (Blackberry Winters 2009) and Jud Caswell (Blackberry Time 2007). Considering Nashville’s recent trials and tribulations, an outward looking positivity pervades the I Love This World lyric that quite simply celebrates exactly what this music town is all about. The autobiographical Tennessee follows, the penultimate Sweet Relief is gospel tinged, and Louise wraps up HOME with the sensitive ballad You Have My Love.

Mosrie’s compositions are thoughtful, refined creations. Given repeated listening, they will penetrate your consciousness. Spend your time thus, you’ll also be hooked.
AW - Maverick Magazine - UK (Sep 1, 2010) - Maverick Country Magazine - UK

The songwriting is really strong, the production is great and your voice quite beautiful. The more important thing to me, though, is that the songs are truly convincing. I find that is an incredibly elusive quality that is lacking in so much music; it's pretty and polished and well executed, but not believable and I grow tired of it after only a couple of listens. So thank you for not falling into that trap! - Lauryn Shapter - KRUU-FM/Fairfield, IA

"...this Nashville-based singer/songwriter blew us away with her in-store performance. Like listening to Patty Griffin and Susan Tedeschi at the same time. Highlight of the 30A Songwriter Festival." - Blog - Central Square Records - Seaside, FL

"Louise is a true talent. We've enjoyed having Louise involved in several radio station events, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive." - Jim Ziegler, Program Director

“Influenced by everyone from ‘70’s folk-rock icon Ricki Lee Jones to ‘80’s pop faves The Sundays, Louise Mosrie brings a refreshing dose of acoustic pop to the singer-songwriter realm. Listening to her latest album, Separated Like Stars, gives you the kind of emotional lift that an old Carole King or Maria Muldaur release would have 30 years ago.” - Metro Beat, Greenville, SC

“With a crystal like voice, Louise Mosrie, presents to us her newest release, Separated Like Stars. This is a collection of diverse tunes sprinkled with an acoustic pop sensibility, yet the acoustic part is only an anchor for the songs as she expands the music into lovely cinematic arrangements better than any major label could churn out. Mosrie’s voice is a lot like Harriet Wheeler’s from the British dream pop group, The Sundays, but her music is far more grounded and gutsy. Like in “Has Been” or “Real Me”, Mosrie includes jazz and folk into her catchy sound. Or while listening to “One of the Lonely Ones” the country flare comes shining through. This recording only slows down nearly toward the end with the expressive solo, “Riverman”. In this song, the strength of the entire CD is heard as her glowing voice becomes entangled with the acoustic guitar. The following tunes, though orchestrated into rock band format, are clearly guided by this intimate setting. Mosrie creates a more eclectic type of dreaminess and thus a wonderful recording.” - Southeast Performer