El Cosgrove – Guitars & Cigars (EP Review)

Fresh from the 2016 CMAA Academy of Country Music, El Cosgrove’s star is on the rise with the recent release of her debut EP, Guitars & Cigars.

Working with producer ARIA-Award winning producer Matt Fell is no mean feat, particularly for someone just starting their career. But Cosgrove, it would seem, is a true professional, having already engaged in writing sessions with Kasey Chambers and Ashleigh Dallas, and performed alongside Catherine Britt and Karl Broadie.

As someone whose tastes probably sway to the more country-pop songs of the genre, it takes a strong player to entrance me into the more traditional side of country, alternative or otherwise. Though I am usually put off by those with a strong twang to their tone, Cosgrove has something a little bit edgier that piques my ever-growing musical curiosity.

In Rebel Girl and The Unfamiliar, Cosgrove’s voice is reminiscent of Elle King’s, with a huskiness that is appeals from the beginning. Most of the tracks are upbeat without being overly so, making it easy to imagine the overall EP being a good road-trip accompaniment.

With the title song, she shines a light on the softer side of her musicality before I Don’t Think So rounds out the five track.

While I would have liked to hear a few more of the slower ballad-esque tunes, it’s clear that Cosgrove is going places. From start to finish the EP is solid, both in a musical and production sense. If this is just the beginning, I look forward to hearing for from this promising artist.

[Editor/Author note: This article was originally published by AMNplify. To view it in its original capacity, click here.]