Music Review: Ashley Ray, ‘ANIMAL’
Nashville-based Americana rocker Ashley Ray turns up the guitars and honesty on ANIMAL.
Ashley Ray’s ANIMAL album artwork.
Primal. It’s the first word that came to mind when I heard the opening guitar riff on the opening title song for Ashley Ray’s new album ANIMAL. It reminded me of when rock ’n’ roll got its first surge of popularity—when hormone-crazed teens embraced it and parents saw it as the beginning of a moral decline. Church had no chance.
Pair that fuzz-filled riff with Ray’s drenched-in-confident-sexuality vocals when she sings “Get out of my heart and get into my bed,” and I knew this was going to be a different record. With this level of unapologetic confidence I could see a certain group of people clutching their pearls and begging for her to find Jesus. And it makes the closet rebel in me want to turn it up even more.
There’s a notable difference in instruments used on this record compared to 2020’s Pauline, which can sometimes lead to songwriting that’s less than stellar—but that’s not the case here. The songs on this project can still easily be played unplugged when you have a vocalist like Ray, who makes you believe she’s lived every word she sings. Her approach reminds me of Eric Church (it was her opening for him back in the late 2000s that led me to discover her). For ANIMAL, the additional production simply breathes more life into each song and helps you feel its meaning and message even more deeply.
Her new approach shines on the next track, “Married,” which contains the powerful refrain “I want a divorce ’cause I wanna be married.” The couple in this song might be married by law, but they’re really just two separate humans living in one house. The production does a fantastic job of making Ray’s vocals feel small with very spare instrument choices that perfectly paint her feeling of loneliness in a house meant for two.
“My Own Place” has that same spacious approach with the instruments, but it’s happier. The slower pace of the drums and guitar create a feeling of her being in her own place. The lyrics show how happy Ray is to finally enjoy life how she pleases.
The album’s rebelliousness re-emerges on “Dirty Angel.” The fuzzy guitar from the title track is back in the form of a climactic solo that makes you feel Ray’s attitude of a Phoenix rising from the ashes and ready to get even: She’s been knocked down by someone she trusted, but is back with a vengeance.
Ashley Ray. Photo credit: Alexa King Stone.
Following the ready-for-arenas anthemic spirit of “Bathtub Madonna,” Ray takes her most direct approach yet on “Stripper Glitter.” Based on a true story where she and some friends (including her now-husband) ended up at a strip club and noticed other patrons weren’t tipping the performers, this song advocates for the dancers and strongly advises the other male patrons it’s time to open their wallets.
Ray clearly has no issue causing a little havoc on behalf of the working ladies on stage. The opening guitar riff reminds me a little of the post-grunge roughness of Everclear. Her tone on the line “Pick your jaw up off the ground if you ain’t gonna pay” paints an image of her grabbing one of the patrons by the collar and speaking right to his face before shoving him back into his seat.
She closes out the record on a sparser note. Her and Ruston Kelly’s textured vocals ground “Break My Heart” in a smoky dive bar with the pedal steel’s gentle touch, telling the story of two people healing from their own scar-leaving traumas. They notice a spark that they’re both willing to risk another broken heart for.
“Mothership” feels like an ode to becoming a mom. Co-written with Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild and the album’s producer Sean McConnell (who also provided the song’s background vocals), it has a soft, sweet lullaby feel, like Ray’s at peace and ready for this new chapter in her life.
The foundation of this record is Ray’s stylized vocals, which pack each word with bold candor. Looking for a little more truth than usual to go with your favorite three chords? Start here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andy Ellis.
Andy Ellis has been spotlighting indie music for over 10 years and is always looking for that next great band. When he’s not listening to music he’s reading, writing, and listening to podcasts about it. He also hosts the Melodic Noise Insider podcast covering Minnesota’s expansive music scene.
