CD Review: Tecia McKenna – Early Fall
by Ritchie Ritchison for Country Music News International
Tecia McKenna defies genre description. Her original album release qualifies her as a singer/songwriter with a strong leaning toward Americana. Her first single after a short musical hiatus was a solid tune reminiscent of Linda Ronstadt during her 1970’s heyday as the Queen of Country Rock. Her next single was a Texas two step and her follow up was still in that swing fashion. Then comes the early fall. I am not talking about an early demise of Western civilization even though every day it seems we are on the brink of it. No “Early Fall” the new single from Tecia McKenna is a stirring country ballad, complete with that beautiful country pedal steel sound that stirs your soul and breaks your heart as purely as the subject matter. The breaks in the vocal phrasing indicate the pain the singer feels singing words that are as fragile as the falling leaves of the season.
If someone ever says to you “Country music is dead” just play them “Early Fall” by Tecia McKenna and they will take back that statement.
Love lost is a time honored subject matter for country music and this track stands along side some of the best songs in country music. It is not maudlin or sappy or full of throw away lines rather it is a song written by a songwriter with a knowledge of the subject matter. While it is a song of loss there is a ring of hope around the singer as she ends the song with the phrase “I’ve got to get ready for an early fall” leaving the listener with the notion that she will be ready when spring and love comes back around.
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
teciamckenna.com