Magnolia

iTunes Review

The talented wife of Drew Holcomb used to be a schoolteacher until her husband convinced her to quit and join his band Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors. After playing a bunch of live shows, many folks kept asking Ellie Holcomb if she was ever going to branch out and record any of her own songs. Ellie’s Magnolia EP is a generous seven-song offering of Nashville-recorded folk tunes that are based on Psalms. The title-track begins with the rich, wooden tones of an old acoustic guitar and a sprightly picked mandolin accompanying her hushed, breathy inflections. Drew sings some backing vocal harmonies that dynamically provide both contrast and congruency from verse to chorus. “Don’t Forget His Love (Psalm 108)” is a beautifully spare serenade where Ellie whisper-sings over minimal arpeggios plucked in perfect time. She opens up her vocal range on “Grateful for Your Love,” singing out with an inspired and spiritual passion. “Anchor of Hope” cleverly rhymes superlatives before the short “Rock of Habitation” closes with the intimacy of a prayer.