If You Can't Say Anything Nice

For her fourth long-player, If You Cant Say Anything Nice, singer/songwriter Leslie Mendelson worked again with longtime co-writer Steve McEwan, who also produced alongside bassist/engineer Lorenzo Wolff. As the reunion may suggest, the album remains in Mendelsons wheelhouse, evoking classic 70s songwriter influences in the vein of Carole King and Carly Simon. (In the period between albums, she released a duet with Jackson Browne for the documentary film 5B.) However, the subject matter here is of its own time, with topics ranging from tragic prescription-drug addiction to media overexposure and anxiety in general, quite in tune with the days economic and political climate. She begins with Lay It All on Me, a dramatic, choral overture of sorts that was reportedly inspired by 1970s John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. The songs emphatic piano-and-drums intro underscores lyrics compatible with the albums title, such as opening words I dont want to show you out/Only want to let you in/I dont want to get you down/I just want to see you win. From there, If You Cant Say Anything Nice pivots between earnest acoustic-guitar folk (Would You Give Up Your Gun), lyrical piano balladry (My Dark Peace), and declarative blues-rock (If You Cant Say Anything Nice). The latter is among a few songs with more substantial, full-band arrangements including backing singers, such as on All Come Together, an uplifting entry with a gospel bent. She gets into heavier topics on tracks like Medication and the spare, haunting Flesh & Bone, but the albums sequencing and consistently hummable melodies make it all go down easy and seem even briefer than its 35 minutes. A strong addition to Mendelsons catalog with both timely and timeless qualities, If You Cant Say Anything Nice doesnt try to push boundaries but instead offers consistently tuneful, efficient songs with substance. ~ Marcy Donelson