Goodbye Cody Scarp by ONCE GREAT ESTATE is an alt-country album with a beautiful, emotional ebb and flow that’s connected to its Americana and Folk roots while feeling modern and flexible enough to innovate with an alternative edge. This mix of old and new, along with the vocalist’s ease and charisma, sold me on this project.
The first few tracks, Ghosts, Heart Shaped Cloud, and Goodbye Cody Scarp, feel like introductory tracks, setting the tone for the rest of the album They explore beautiful, in-depth narratives through the vocal delivery without compromising the flow and comfort of the performance and listening experience. They lean more heavily on the traditional folk and country influences here, with these beautiful, shiny guitar performances that breeze through the composition, providing an emotional amplifier through their subtle licks and trills. They almost work as a call-and-response element at points throughout the album, providing a balanced constant to the vocals, something for them to bounce off against. The guitars do a great job eliciting a spectrum of emotions from optimism to bitter melancholy, all with the same rich depth and texture that the vocals so effortlessly employ.
As the Album develops, tracks like Rainbow in The Sky and Right Outside Your Door evolve their sound with a more alternative swing. Rainbow in The Sky builds its sonic landscape from an acoustic guitar with an enigmatic and subtle melody. This tapestry is weaved further by mournful vocal harmonies and descending keyboard motifs. They fill out the sound beautifully without overwhelming the listener or distracting from the story articulated by the lead vocal performance. This track is a highlight, showing the beautiful intersection between their traditional country sound and an alternative, modern edge.
The final tracks on the album feel introspective, aware of the sonic journey the album has taken you on. Alas, for example, has a lot of space in the composition. This feels like a purposeful decision, giving the listener time to reflect on the album’s journey.
I’m very impressed with the diversity, evolution, and rich depth of this album. It surprised me at every turn and Rainbow In The Sky will stay in my song rotation for some time.
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