Bella White, Among Other Things Review

Bella White is a country singer and songwriter from Calgary. Her debut album Just Like Leaving with Rounder Records, won critical acclaim from Rolling Stone and American Songwriter and performed at SXSW, Stagecoach, and Merlefest. Now she’s back with the follow-up, Among Other Things.

White delivers ten original songs on Among Other Things, and one can easily get lost in her angelic vocals and well-crafted lyrics. For example, her lyrics show her emotional storytelling: “My glass is always empty, it don’t take me much to cry.” The songs range from upbeat to ballads and even an old Western movie vibed selection.

The album opens with “The Way I Oughta Go.” White’s relatable lyrics find her looking back at a relationship breakdown and wondering what to do next. The cleaver lyrics are delivered with a catchy melody and a strong chord progression, honky-tonk-style piano, stomping drums, and plenty of fiddle playing. Her voice has a soft retro quality with the classic era aesthetic in country music.

“Rhodenendron” has a dreamy melody and observational narrative lyrics about a mother robin dodging snakes and housecats as she works to feed her young baby birds. White matches the delicate quality of the lyrics with her vocal approach to singing the melody. In addition, the haunting pedal steel brings even more emotional appeal to the song.

Overall, Among Other Things is an enjoyable album with a classic country vibe featuring White’s distinctive vocal style and narrative lyric writing. The band is outstanding players and supports White at every turn. White’s sophomore album shows growth and an artist evolving into her own. Her songwriting skills are in top form, and one should indeed find many traditional country gems on this album.