Emily Hicks - Weird Wild Wonderful (2024)

What I’m saying may sound like criticism, but I assure you — it’s a compliment. I’m old school & what I enjoy most about Emily Hick’s voice & musical approach is her enthusiasm which is filled with the pop attraction that filled many 60s glorious unforgettable melodic hit songs. She has the Lesley Gore aggression, the juvenile touch in Emily’s “Wild As the Flowers” can be found with a Sue Thompson tone & with “Anymore,” & the show-biz inspired “One Piece At a Time,” dare I say it — Dusty Springfield.

Ms. Hicks’ lyrics are of high quality as she unveils stories & frames each with excellent backup vocalists & drama in her instrumentation. There are no low spots during the ten Weird Wild Wonderful songs. She even peppers the tunes with her smooth clear range. It has maturity & playfulness as heard in (“Hickory Lane”).

Emily mixes it up with folk & country vividness with pop lavishness. The set was produced by Nick Bullock (bass/acoustic & electric guitar/keys) & the songs were recorded in Nashville, TN.

I found the majority of her work refreshing & far from ordinary. Emily Hicks is an eloquent artist who applies her words smartly to her narratives with refined, decorative melodies. “Different Kind of Life” is marvelous. Few artists explore their tales this deeply & poignantly. Emily runs a slender finger across the musical glass of John Prine where she has humor mixed with seriousness. And, once sufficiently mixed a song any young person could relate to.

Emily (ukulele/acoustic guitar/piano/vocals) is a Salt Lake City, Utah artist who draws inspiration from the outdoors & nostalgia, explores unconditional love & applies these topics seamlessly. Again, the arrangements are indigenous to the 60s songwriters who supplied those many excellent female vocalists with pop classic memories.

Emily’s “When You Look At Me,” is delightfully upbeat as Mary Weiss & The Shangri Las (“Love You More Than Yesterday,” “The Sweet Sounds of Summer”). There’s lots to enjoy in this showcase. Ms. Hicks is exuberant & that doesn’t make her retro despite my comparisons. Just because one is related to a grandpa doesn’t make one old.

While “Let You Stay” is a good, good composition Emily applies a bit too much Alanis Morrisette’s anxious tonality. She doesn’t need it. Pour a little warmer easy listening ballad-distinguished voice in spots for this & it’ll be charm.