Annie Dressner is a former NYC resident now living in the UK. Dressner self-released her new EP East Twenties this week, giving the world four more of her straightforward, confessional folk songs. The songs center on Dressner’s voice, elegant and pretty but with an edge of quirky warmth—something like a higher Jenny Lewis or Nina Perssons of the Cardigans. Simple acoustic guitar, keys, and tambourine rounds out most of the tracks.
Dresser’s lyrics are well-written, if a little direct, and it feels like future development and more writing will see her tap into a deeper potential. Opener “Heartbreaker” is probably the EP’s strongest cut with its accessible chorus hook. The hidden gem is the minor-key bridge that gives the song its title. Dressner alternates between strumming and picking across the four songs with both proving to be effective. “Flame” feels fuller than the others with minor-chord strums and Dressner hitting some lower notes. A background male vocal is intertwines nicely with Dressner’s voice on “Lost in a Car.” Only one of the tracks exceeds three minutes, as Dressner is able to construct and develop a song without having them drag on. This may seem a small point, but it should be considered an insightful accomplishment for a young musician.
Clearly a talented musician, especially considering the DIY nature of East Twenties, Dressner proves that she has something to offer in her songwriting. However, I think the most important aspect of East Twenties is that it hints at something greater. Many DIY artists begin with bare, solo work, but developing these kinds of songs with some simple percussion or few more flourishes might define them more. For now, we have four enjoyable songs from Annie Dressner with high hopes for what lies ahead.
