Kelsea＜Green & Yellow Swirl Transparent Vinyl＞

How do you know Kelsea Ballerini remains a country singer despite the sleekly modern sound of her third album? She still follows traditions, making sure she sings songs about her hometown and drinking, plus she names the record Kelsea because its a little more personal than her previous two. Its not hard to discern what she means by personal. Ballerini begins Kelsea by admitting shes one to Overshare and she concludes the LP with L.A., a ballad where she talks herself out of calling up her famous friends because shes not sure if shes cool enough, thereby proving her opening thesis. Kelsea is filled bluntly candid confessions about universal emotions, all married to glistening pop productions where all the electronic elements (and there are many) are softened so they feel warm. The deft intermingling of personal anxieties and bubbly melodies is happily, thoroughly modern, designed to slide onto any manner of streaming playlist. To that end, Ballerini underscores her connection to pop not merely through the albums extended cool shimmer but by inviting Halsey -- the queen of suburban Jersey angst -- to cameo on The Other Girl and writing Love & Hate with Ed Sheeran. The presence of these two superstars not only overshadows Kenny Chesneys duet on Half of My Hometown -- his presence seems designed to reinforce her country roots -- but shows how Kelsea is designed to push Ballerini right into the thick of the mainstream, where she would no longer have to worry about being cool enough to call another celebrity. Its a calculation, but Kelsea doesnt seem crass, thanks both to the soothing throb of the production and to Ballerinis charm. An assured singer, she settles into a hushed, urgent intimacy for Kelsea, an approach that suits the songs and her intent and also helps make the whole stylish production seem genuinely intimate. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine