Headfirst

Album Review

Headfirst is the second release by Texas songwriter Jillian Edwards. Her debut, the eight-song Songbird EP in 2009, garnered enough critical notice to get her placed on regional tours as an opening act, while she won others over in small venues and house concerts throughout the South. Her follow-up, the digital-only (for now) Headfirst, features seven more songs written with an irresistible sense of youthful, spiritual optimism. It's a next step for Edwards, as it contains tighter, more focused songcraft and its considerably more professional production values accent her clear, ringing alto and guitar playing. Standouts on the recording include "You've Got Me" and "Keep You Here with Me," featuring Johnny Stimson as a duet partner. Headfirst scored the top spot on iTunes the week of its November 15 release, displacing the Civil Wars' Barton Hollow in thes singer/songwriter category. Edwards has raised the bar with this release, a compelling, left-field entry on the singer/songwriter scene.