by Chad Rafferty (@chadrafferty)
There’s a certain sweet spot where a song manages to feel both familiar and brand new at the same time. It’s something you’ve heard before without triggering any derivative alarms, yet it’s undeniably fresh without completely alienating. With “Cowgirl in a Ditch,” the lead single off their Sweet Guitar Solos EP, Philly-based Florry finds that balance in full force. The track seeps with the twang and open road attitude of roots rock, but the layered vocal and earnest lyricism evoke something noticeably unique to the present moment. It’s the type of single that makes you wish it was backed by a double LP but, for now, we’ll take what we can get.
The tracks on Sweet Guitar Solos were all recorded between mid-2021 and early 2022, and “Cowgirl in a Ditch” is the only one that features the full power of the band’s new seven piece ensemble. Headed by lead singer, guitarist, songwriter and de facto bandleader Francie Medosch, the new-look Florry, now bolstered by fiddle, steel pedal and a host of harmonizing vocals, brings plenty of excitement for whatever’s coming next. That said, Sweet Guitar Solos is far from just a stopgap project, and the opener is just the first in a handful of worthwhile tracks. The four-song EP is raw and rough alt-country bliss coupled with moments of polished clarity and, as promised, you’ll find some crunchy guitar solos throughout that are, in fact, pretty fucking sweet.
On “When I Kicked You Out of the Band (I Wasn’t Kicking You Out of My Life),” which is equal parts sweet, somber, and hilarious, Medosch attempts to let an ex-bandmate down easy(ish): “You can’t play in time / and I can’t keep saying that’s fine / everyone’s saying it / your heart’s not with it.” The song jumps between borderline spoken word verse vocals and an absolute banger of a chorus to bring it home, and you can’t help but imagine that the band is having a good time playing it.
We’re also treated to Florry’s take on Drive-By Truckers’ “Lisa’s Birthday,” a cover that pays homage with an alt edge thanks to Medosch’s vocal and an upgraded solo section. The closer is a spruced-up version of “Big Fall,” the title track from Medosch’s 2021 solo LP under the Florry name. The new version is faster, wilder, and showcases an artist who’s gaining more confidence and incorporating new sonic tricks with each release.
Coming off a quick run of shows with 2022’s undisputed alt-country champ MJ Lenderman, it feels as though Florry is primed to make a bigger splash moving forward. While Sweet Guitar Solos may feel limited, and even frustrating in its brevity, its fantastic sixteen minutes will leave you in excited anticipation of the future of a band that seems capable of anything.