Album Review: Alicia Witt - The Conduit

To paraphrase, they say every rock star wants to be an actor, and every actor wants to be a rock star. We've seen plenty of times over the years how the two co-mingle, and what is evident is while the passion may exist, only a select few have the talent to succeed on both stages. When I heard Alicia Witt's last EP, "15,000 Days", it was made clear she is one of those rare few who indeed can jump across the line whenever she sees fit. Her piano and vocal driven songs hit a sweet spot of mature pop and singer/songwriter music, establishing a mood and sound I have often returned to.

"The Conduit" carries on from that point, but also expands in directions to reveal more of the artist underneath. This is a songwriter's album, which I say knowing not everyone will understand what I'm trying to say. These songs are a showcase of the craft of writing songs, and the care that goes into using a melody to tell secrets and stories that connect us together.

There is a delicacy to Alicia's voice that shines on the up-tempo songs, where no matter how far they lean into a pop realm, the songs keep their emotional weight. That is where Alicia the actress can be heard, with her voice melting around the song to give us the pathos as well as the melody. Even among the best singers, not everyone is able to pull that feat off.

Those upbeat numbers, notably "Talk To You", "Chasing Shadows", and "Down She Goes", are beautifully lush songs that ride gentle waves of melody to form moments that are hard to forget. There is subtlety to the way they ingratiate themselves, but make no mistake they do exactly that. For me, they hit in the same spot that Elton John's late career albums do, trading in youthful piss and vinegar for the wisdom that only comes with experience.

These songs are telling the stories of the human experience; life and love, and all the humor and pain in failing to live up to the timelines we draw for ourselves. Bad first dates, relationships that were destined to fail, the longing to have someone else feel what we feel. Those are the universal experiences Alicia details through these songs, putting a beautiful gloss atop the scars of time, preserving the memories of how we became the people we are right now.

"The Conduit" is a delicate album, one that grazes across us like a breeze on a warm autumn day. There is a gentle caress to these songs, pulling our attention to where they came from, and giving us a reminder that no matter how still the air we are breathing might feel, every breath is fresh. I might be waxing a bit too much, but that's the way Alicia's song make me feel. She has give us beautiful music that might just sound like a wry and knowing smile.