Subtle vocals, revealing lyrics, and intricate arrangements are the foundations of Peggy Wright’s debut effort, Without You.A tastefully layered, mostly acoustic pop album, Without You goes right to the heart of the matter with its pure and raw emotional feel.With an intricately balanced interplay of superb instrumentation supporting the airy vocal stylings of Peggy Wright, Without You should appeal to fans of indie, folk, soft rock, and pop.The title track of Without You is an elegant tribute to the city of Boston and life’s offerings. The guitar stylings of Rick McRae along with the intuitive trumpet choices of Mike Elam provide the support for the melancholy lyric and vocal quality presented.Chinaberry Tree is a remarkable story of despair turned into hope, of what can happen when habits begin to take their toll, and how a storm’s damage can represent positive change. The feeling is enhanced by the tasteful interplay of Cindy Cashdollar’s steel and dobro with Elana James’ violin.An interesting departure from the other tracks is the pop-infused Haven’t We. Three interlacing keyboard tracks, played by Billy Wolfe, combined with a Gilmour-like guitar track and driving percussion make this selection a unique addition to Without You.Finally, I’m Here, recorded live in Cedar Creek Studio, Austin, Texas, was inspired by Christine Albert’s “Swan Songsâ€.Produced and arranged by Paul M. Wright.The song, Without You, came from a place of great indecision about an important choice Peggy had to make. Jack and Me is a song she wrote for her niece, who moved away from home for the first time, with her cat, Jack. Like I Am You is about broken hearts and dreams. You Wanna Say is about what really matters. Holiday Song is about the deep-seated comfort one must feel who has that special someone to share the seasons with. Trouble Moving On is about just that. Chinaberry Tree is about filling the empty place. Carry the Grief is about infertility. Take Hold is about listening to the whisper within yourself, whatever your dream may be. Make Believe is about the fantasy of lasting love. Haven’t We is about memories in a closet. Peggy wrote, I Take You, a song about sharing your heart, for her nephew when he got married. Tour of Duty is a ballad about the consequences of war. Peggy supports our troops, not the war they are fighting. The last song on the CD, I’m Here, is about the end of life, and was inspired by Christine Albert’s Swan Songs.Without You is definitely worth a listen. Available at Waterloo Records in Austin, Texas.
