If My Wife New I'd Be Dead

When a young and spirited young performer from Lincoln, Nebraska or Boise, Idaho or someplace similar sings about moving to Nashville, it reflects a desire to reach out for the fabled brass ring of success and the opportunities that go with it. When Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, a native of Dublin, Ireland and a veteran of a well-reviewed but commercially disappointing indie rock band, declares shes going to Nashville, it means something different. Thompsons evolution into CMAT on her solo debut, 2022s If My Wife New, Id Be Dead, is a willful transformation, a witty public reinvention that reflects a different sort of ambition. Playfully describing herself as a "global pop star," CMATs music is steeped in her interest in classic country music and its eager embrace of big emotions and the drama of ordinary life. That said, shes just as indebted to a cleverly skewed version of contemporary pop thats smart enough to set itself apart from radio-friendly peers while borrowing what she likes from the melodic sensibilities and polished production of the mainstream. CMAT has namechecked Dolly Parton and Katy Perry as her most important influences, and its not hard to hear a hint of Dolly in her themes and delivery that can be played as camp or as perfectly sincere at will. However, the glossy aural candyland of Perrys work is miles away from If My Wife New; instead, one hears a blend of the self-constructed melodrama of Lana Del Rey, the playful but determined persona of Title-era Meghan Trainor, and the vocal bravado of Adele, while dialing down her seriousness. This unusual set of ingredients, and Thompsons skill in proportioning them, is a big part of what makes If My Wife New, Id Be Dead work so well, but what seals the deal is CMATs delivery. Her voice is strong enough and boasts enough personality to make her persona come to life, and her songs hit a charming midpoint between small-town gossip and show-stopping tunes from the West End musical that exists only in CMATs mind. That show is only imaginary right now, but the home-brewed spectacle of this album makes it easy to visualize CMAT tackling bigger stages in the future. Its a witty and thoroughly delightful debut. ~ Mark Deming