photo by Chris Yeager; photo courtesy of Sarah Levecque

by Eric Harabadian, Contributing Blogger

Album Review of Sarah Levecque: Moments of Silver

Sarah Levecque has been a fixture on the Boston music scene for several years now. Playing multiple coffeehouses, nightclubs and venues of all kinds truly earns you troubadour status. It also gives you the fuel of experience and emotional depth that she bestows so eloquently on her latest release Moments of Silver. Her musical style could easily be categorized as Americana or roots music. But, whatever the genre, her voice and songwriting approach will stop you in your tracks. She’s got this smoky, ethereal delivery that makes you hang on to every word. And she is backed by a group of faithful compadres in fellow guitarist/backing vocalist Peter Zarkadas, bassist Johnny Sciascia and drummer Scott Sherman.

image courtesy of Sarah Levecque

“Circle Back Around” is the lead track on the album and is a brisk traveling tune. The mix of acoustic guitars and electric slide dovetail nicely with Levecque’s buoyant lyrics. “Please believe it’s all temporary, a lapse in time,” she sings. “Oh don’t backtrack now if you missed something this time. ‘Cause it’s all gonna circle back around.” The thoughtful singer-songwriter kicks off the festivities on an upbeat note. She gives you hope and, perhaps, some personal tools for survival.

“Dead Center, Head On” follows and is a strong country rocker. Levecque employs the spirit of Bobby Gentry and Tanya Tucker, with a little Lucinda Williams thrown in. This features some smooth lead guitar and a cool laid-back traditional Bakersfield vibe.

The title track has a very spacious atmospheric quality to it. Early Joni Mitchell comes to mind here. Tasteful guitar fills suggest a modal feel blended with a Grateful Dead kind of openness. A somewhat surreal asymmetric mood also is present.

“Go With It” restores a bright pace, with its bopping country charm. Levecque offers good advice as she sings “Go with it if you feel it. Don’t let it pass you by. Making this living is killing you slow. Before you know it you’ve got nothing to show.” Those are words which could apply to anyone and lift one up from their lowest point.

photo by Chris Yeager; photo courtesy of Sarah Levecque

“Dissatisfaction Got You Down” explores another therapeutic angle. This has a very classic blues structure. It essentially drones on minimal chords a la John Lee Hooker. Levecque uses her voice in subtle hushed tones, supported by cool understated guitar breaks.

“Good for Nothin’, Good for Now” features a smooth driving beat and a lyrical struggle with destitution and self worth. “I wanna feel the wind coming out of nowhere cold, ’cause nowhere is where I’m headed,” she sings. But she seems to resolve things with the line “I might be good for nothin’, but I’m good for now.”

“Keep a Line Open” is a mid-tempo song that expresses sentiments of connectivity and communion with others. We all have our struggles, but the chorus “Keep a line open for me, I’ll keep a line open for you” is the kind of message we could all use right now.

“Rolling Over the Cracks” is a nice mix of minor and major keys. It slowly smolders and crescendos with a kicking electric guitar solo. The melodies here really support the lyrical call to action of moving forward through despair. She sings “Is it tragedy or disorder? Is it what’s waiting behind black windows or down the dark corridors? It’s all been off the tracks. Somehow we gotta keep rollin’ over the cracks.”

photo by Chris Yeager; photo courtesy of Sarah Levecque

The album concludes with “Blues Keep Me Company.” It’s a thoughtful ballad that brings it all back to Levecque’s roots, which are the blues. It’s a place she can always return to and seems to find solace in. The hook states “I’ve been trying to outrun the failure, but trouble keeps gaining on me. So, I’ll let the blues keep me company.”

Sarah Levecque is an introspective artist who writes from the heart and puts a lot of emotional weight into her songs. Perhaps her greatest gift is her ability to clearly articulate the human experience and share her passion, vulnerability, and strength with the listener.

Looking Ahead

Though she doesn’t currently have any shows on the concert calendar due to COVID-19, you can find out when and where Sarah Levecque will be performing live via the “Shows” page of her website.