With her new album Til It’s Gone, Ali McGuirk delivers a sublime set of songs that pairs her trademark soul sound with rootsy turns and raw rock ‘n’ roll detours.
Ali McGuirk coproduced Til It’s Gone with Jonah Tolchin (a star singer-songwriter in his own right) and a set of session legends including Little Feat guitarist/mandolinist Fred Tackett, organist Larry Goldings (James Taylor, Norah Jones), singer Valerie Pinkston (Ray Charles, Luther Vandross), and percussionist Lenny Castro (Stevie Nicks, Stevie Wonder).
The musicians may have provided the astounding chops, but the true magic of the album comes from McGuirk’s singular voice as both singer and songwriter. The nine tracks run from intimate introspection to wider meditations on oppression and justice, from tough R&B and tender soul to big rock guitar and twangy folk. Each song succeeds because McGuirk has composed a dynamic, hypnotic frame for her vocals.