Bye Bye Jackie. Laura-Mary Carter

Laura-Mary Carter entered my life as the singer/guitarist of Blood Red Shoes in the first decade of this century. The band played an obviously U.K. version of The White Stripes. Although the band's last two albums were less exciting than what came before, it was far from its rope's end. At the time of writing, I have no information whether Blood Red Shoes is no more. I am writing about Carter's first solo album though, called Bye Bye Jackie.

To give Laura-Mary Carter a lot of, deserved, credit, it is as far removed from her band sound as I am from being in my twenties. If anything, she has released her inner Nancy Sinatra, I would say. And with that comes some Lana del Rey as well. This album is filled with bittersweet pop music that hovers somewhere between sad and resigned.

The listener should therefor not expect a jolly pop album. Instead you will hear a singer that is doing exactly what she wants to do. And that means that you are about to be pleased no little.

On the other hand, I can't help but wonder that a singer known for her work in alternative rock duo Blood Red Shoes even would want to make an album like Bye Bye Jackie. It is so far removed from her previous work, that I can't comprehend it really. This level of pop music is no part of alternative rock in any way.

An open mind helps though, as what is on offer is loaded with quality. Laura-Mary Carter taps into a totally different side of herself. And that side seems to include visits to her grandmother (or father) and hear them play their Doris Day albums. Just listen to the title song for example closing the album.

With Sometimes I Fail the album starts with this totally relaxed song. I can't help and hear the association with Lana del Rey and because of that the Doris Day and Debbie Reynolds connection I always hear with that. The music may be far more modern than 1950s orchestrated music, the connection is there without a doubt. Carter does not do a Lana, for that Bye Bye Jackie has far too much its own feel and above all: guitars. This album is filled with slow moving guitar licks. She remains a guitarist primarily. What she has managed to do successfully, is tap into a pop vein that was less obvious in all the guitar and drums fired songs of her band.

Although I hope that Blood Red Shoes will release a new album in 2026 or 27, with Bye Bye Jackie Laura-Mary Carter has released a very successful solo album that is so different that is a true solo album. For now, she made a just as strong as it is a bold move.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order Bye Bye Jackie here: 

https://laura-marycarter.bandcamp.com/album/bye-bye-jackie