05/02/2026
Another great review for Lolly Lee
8 🌟
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Ralph Molina, drummer for Neil Young & Crazy Horse, is said to have remarked that “Lolly Lee is an underrated outsider—a true rock ’n’ roll artist—who has emerged from nowhere, from the suburbs of Birmingham.” But Everything Spins is only partly a rock album. The palette is broader than that.
Everything Spins consists of twelve songs that fling the listener between fairly raw, guitar-driven rock (“Reverend Fred Lane,” “Trailerhood”), beautifully string-laden soul (“Slow Down”), a touch of country-pop (“Better Angels,” where Harry Gale played guitar for the last time before his passing), as well as americana and folk-pop (the title track, “Lost in Love,” and the closing “When I’m Gone”).
It’s at once beautiful, thoughtful, sad, humorous, energetic, and very alive and varied. The album is Lolly Lee’s second as a solo artist, and some of the lyrics likely would never have been written had she not lost her husband in 2023.
Lee began her music career back in the 1980s, singing and playing rhythm guitar in The Mortals and Split the Dark. Those bands were primarily known in the South, where she’s from. On this album, she plays both acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, and keyboards, and of course, sings. She’s been writing songs all along.
Producer Anthony Crawford contributes mandolin, piano, various guitars, bass, and drums on the record. Savana Lee provides backing vocals, and Chris Carmichael adds lush string arrangements on four tracks. In addition, a number of guest musicians appear here and there as needed.
Lolly Lee has been compared to Lucinda Williams, and I can only agree that there are appealing similarities, though she’s no copy. That said, the rock track “Sassafras” feels like it borrows a bit from the not-so-unknown Rolling Stones. Listen and decide for yourself. It’s a fun and solid rock song regardless.
Other highlights on this brief 33-minute CD include “Husbands and Tattoos,” which quickly sticks in your head and features clever lyrics; “Bar Fly,” about taking flight on the wings of alcohol; and the gospel-tinged “Shut Up Y’all,” featuring The McCrary Sisters on backing vocals and tambourine—a humorous wish for the noise of society to pause for a moment and make room for reflection.
A truly lovely little record. Go discover it.
Everything Spins är ett kort men innehållsrikt album på 33 minuter. Det är varierat, levande och känslomässigt träffsäkert.
