Critical praise for Lori McKenna’s The Tree

Photo credit: Becky Fluke

“In her own work, like her latest album “Even for listeners who may not “One of the great songwriters The Tree, Ms. McKenna’s pleasantly rough- have the context of her earlier work, The of her generation…she is the Bruce around-the-edges voice fits better into Tree is proof that when McKenna says, Springsteen of hearth and home.” the world of folk than glossy commercial ‘Here’s what I know,’ you sit down, listen up country—but the songs are as sharp as and take plenty of notes. And there’s one those she sells to the heavy hitters.” thing McKenna makes clear here that we already knew ourselves: She’s an invaluable “Another batch of pristine compositions… pillar of songwriting and growing ever Over a much-heralded multi-decade career stronger, just like that sturdy oak in your that’s only now hitting its peak, the singer- “McKenna’s latest album as childhood backyard.” songwriter has established herself as not a performer, The Tree, is another typically only one of country music’s most respected superb effort, showcasing her gift for songwriters...but more importantly one of combining precise details and heartfelt its most poignant storytellers.” emotions for universally applicable songs “As a songwriter, McKenna has that feel lifted from reality.” a gift for turning domestic detail into universal truth.”

“The Tree is another fabulous, understated record: 10 songs about families and “[‘People Get Old’ is] a heartfelt look at the domesticity, and the tensions of everyday ways in which age, time, and family shape “Those familiar with Lori life, and one (Like Patsy Would) about the people we eventually become.” McKenna’s songwriting style know the aspirations of someone trying to write the beauty is in her details.” about the world as well as Hemingway and sing about it as well as Cline.”

For more information, please contact Asha Goodman 615.320.7753, Nick Mallchok 615.320.7753, or Carla Sacks 212.741.1000, at Sacks & Co., [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]. Continued praise for Lori McKenna’s The Tree “McKenna shows why no one sings her 8.3 / 10 STARS “For those of us who listen tearful songs better than she does. As usual “Her voice is warm and frank, and her and short of breath, with our own loves McKenna’s lyrics are detailed and poignant, understated, mostly acoustic musical and losses passing before our eyes, let’s but it’s her phrasing and delivery that arrangements never overshadow lyrics in hope that last musical testament from makes them truly come to life.” which she almost always manages to say Lori McKenna is far, far away.” the right thing…McKenna’s talent is such that you don’t need to actually know her personally to benefit. It’s all right there in “Though it all, McKenna’s her songs.” “Exquisite new album…McKenna’s greatest empathy shines, as steady and comforting gift: her ability to walk right up to the as a porch light left on…On new album edge sentimentality without forfeiting the The Tree, those creations emerge with the intensity that the moment demands.” vividness and grace listeners have come to “The wisdom she imparts across expect from McKenna’s songs over the the songs that follow is profound in its last 15-plus years.” simplicity, but it still needs to be heard: McKenna’s omniscient narrators are simultaneously understanding toward “…Lori McKenna has made an album their subjects and interrogating toward as big as life itself. It’s her masterpiece… themselves, a generosity of spirit that, If there are better songwriters than Lori when paired with Cobb’s thoughtful, subtle “Equally affecting is Lori McKenna’s McKenna on the planet right now, I bet arrangements, is a quiet yet welcome tonic ‘People Get Old.’ Country music’s go-to you can count them on one hand.” to the current landscape.” songwriter aims that golden pen at father time on her latest, emotionally devastating anthem. Start engraving the woman’s Grammy and bring on The Tree.” “There’s an unrelenting, aching 8 / 10 STARS beauty at the heart of The Tree because “What elevates her material ...can McKenna once again proves just how good be found in her use of particular details she is at capturing the joys and sorrows to reveal layers of emotion and her sweet that fill our hearts and lives.” 8 / 10 STARS soprano voice.” “Lori McKenna’s poetic stanzas are picturesque and her messages are spiritually sacred and sincere. Her songwriting and lyrics are truthfully BEST SONGS OF 2018 SO FAR captivating and fascinatingly realistic.” “It’s difficult to know where to start (“PEOPLE GET OLD”) when praising Lori McKenna’s The Tree. “An elegant and beautiful album.” It’s so good in so many ways.”

9 / 10 RATING “One of the greatest living songwriters of “Lori uses picturesque lyrics to paint a vivid “If you can listen to Lori McKenna’s ‘People our generation…If there’s any hope for the image of how quickly time passes between Get Old’ without crying and calling your future of mainstream country music, it lies when we are children to when we become parents—you might not be alive…a tender in songwriters like Lori McKenna.” adults, but also how that time passes just as look at life with apt observation that, yes, quickly for our parents. Wishing we could people get old and things change.” go back to previous times, but accepting the fact that as life goes on, people get old.”

For more information, please contact Asha Goodman 615.320.7753, Nick Mallchok 615.320.7753, or Carla Sacks 212.741.1000, at Sacks & Co., [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected].