Allison Russell – Outside Child (Orange Vinyl)

Allison Russell is the lead singer of Birds of Chicago, a project she helms with her husband, songwriter and guitarist JT Nero. On her first solo album, Russell and Nero continue co-writing the material, but they leave their folk-based sound behind in favor of a more polished, soulful pop/R&B approach. The lyrics Russell penned for this album are chillingly auto – biographical, dealing with the abuse she faced as a child and the way that experience shaped her life and art. The ambient, low-key arrangements have a haunting presence that intensifies Russell's confessional vocals. "4th Day Prayer" has a rhythm that's half Motown, half gospel. Russell softly describes the abuse she endured, while a female chorus supplies wordless harmonies. The lyrics meld Biblical references with her own harrowing experiences. "The Runner" is a mid-tempo rocker that celebrates the moment she let the music take over her soul. A mix of quiet organ and subtle electric guitar licks play off of backing vocals, suggesting the comfort music and religion can provide. The lyrics to "All the Women" are based on the work Russell did with homeless girls after she began the process of her own healing. Some stunning, wordless gospel harmonies and Russell's anguished singing are set against an ominous backing track of ambient percussive sound. "Joyful Mother – fuckers" is a hushed duet with her husband Nero. Two voices and an acoustic guitar offer a prayer of forgiveness for her father's brutality and a hymn to the soothing love of her spouse and extended family. The tone of the album is finely balanced between the grief of lost innocence and the salvation Russell found in music, art and motherhood. It's an inspiring achievement.

— J. Poet, Relix

Outside Child announces Allison Russell as one of the most powerful voices in contemporary roots music—a debut solo album that transforms childhood trauma into transcendent art without flinching from the darkness or wallowing in it. Pressed on orange vinyl, this Grammy-nominated album tells Russell's story of surviving physical, psychological, and sexual abuse at the hands of her adoptive father, running away to Montreal at 15, and eventually finding healing through music, community, and motherhood. Variety called it "the album of the year" and noted that "musical memoirs don't come braver, or better."

Russell's two decades with Po' Girl, Birds of Chicago, and Our Native Daughters prepared her for this moment, but nothing quite prepared listeners for the emotional impact of songs like "Nightflyer," "4th Day Prayer," and "The Hunters." Her clarinet playing, banjo work, and soulful vocals create a sonic palette that draws from folk, blues, gospel, and soul traditions. The McCrary Sisters, Yola, and Erin Rae add harmonies throughout. Three Grammy nominations—Best Americana Album, Best American Roots Song, and Best American Roots Performance—confirmed what critics already knew: Outside Child is a landmark achievement. The orange vinyl pressing adds visual warmth to music that burns with survivor's joy.

Orange Vinyl LP. Fantasy Records. Released 2021. Three Grammy nominations. Features Yola, Erin Rae, McCrary Sisters. Produced by Dan Knobler.