Laci Kaye Booth - The Loneliest Girl in the World

“She could have made it to the altar, but she’s not the kind of bitch you can alter,” Laci Kaye Booth sings on the title track of her debut album, The Loneliest Girl in the World. The collection serves as a strong introduction to the rising artist, each track showcasing her ability to weave together personal narratives with a blend of country and pop influences.

Over the course of 14 songs, Booth's evocative vocals exude a compelling blend of vulnerability and depth, complementing her storytelling lyrics with a distinct vintage flair. Unlike many of today’s top songs, designed to cater to algorithms, The Loneliest Girl in the World opts for crafting full narratives that give listeners the chance to get acquainted with Booth as an artist. The one-minute ‘Intro’ sets a nostalgic tone, incorporating voice memos and adding another intimate layer to the already personal effort.

Booth's songwriting prowess shines on tracks like ‘Damn Good in a Dive Bar,’ as she seamlessly blends themes of longing with a fresh country-pop flair, while standout tracks ‘Cigarettes’ and ‘Nightmare’ delve into Booth's personal highs and lows, showcasing her angelic yet smoky voice over clean guitar melodies. Elsewhere, the title track combines catchy pop hooks with Nashville-styled lyrics, incorporating visual storytelling and clever plays on words to challenge societal norms set on young women. While there are a couple generic styled tracks – namely ‘Sometimes’ and ‘Neon & Off’ – that could seemingly be sung by any rising artist, Booth infuses her own unique sound, intertwining country imagery with subtle elements of R&B.

The album concludes on a lyrical highnote with ‘Hang On Houston,’ a heartfelt ballad that brings the album full circle, echoing the sentiment of Booth's tough journey in a 10 year town. With its lullaby-style melody and voice memos from Booth's family members interspersed, the track serves as a reminder of her roots, as well as her determination to stay true to herself.

On the whole, The Loneliest Girl in the World undoubtedly sets Booth up for success as a rising artist as she expertly combines the feel-good sound of pop with the relatable authenticity of country music. A perfect cocktail of heartfelt storytelling, angelic vocals and genre-blending sound, it’s an intoxicating country-pop mixology that will get listeners buzzing along from top to bottom.

9/10

Laci Kaye Booth’s 2024 project, The Loneliest Girl in the World, is available everywhere May 17 via Geffen Records.