Good Gal by Chella & The Charm

Good Gal comes out the gates with the bright melody and a bold confidence of “OPS.” But nothing is ever so simple or rote as an upbeat pop construct with Chella and the Charm. The doubt and perhaps even disillusionment strikes deep but without the emotional violence of malice. Even in her most arch turns of phrase, Chella's words are informed by a rare and poetic self examination that invites the listener to think differently, more deeply and honestly. But not a brutal honesty. Especially so on this record the tenor is one of gentle restraint in calling oneself out because life's blows have been coming steadily and in reliable measures that in another time of life one might brush off more easily. The songs don't delve into catastrophic personal tragedy so much as the fractures in one's psyche and fragile self-confidence that gradually erode you from within and force you to see your life, your aspirations, your community, your identity and your relationships in new ways—often in ways that are painful in new ways that not immediately poignant but, rather, an aggregate experience that Chella is so deft at articulating in the EP's five songs. Making the subject matter relatable and human and not abstract is Chella's great achievement as a songwriter this time around. In being able to delineate the modern adult angst so vividly, Chella, by implication, suggests it's all survivable and by chiseling off the dark stuff that life without the burden of self-deceit is much preferable and sustainable. (Tom Murphy)

Textured, lush, and captivating with a sound that speaks to the traditional country and western of yesteryear while expanding on bare bones, tastefully intertwining smart, modern lyricism and catchy indie singer/songwriter sensibility, Chella & The Charm is a band with a heart of gold and penchant for good whiskey.

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