Bite Down

Rosalie

Bite Down

Merge

March 26, 2024
Web Exclusive

By Mark Moody

Rosali Middleman's fourth album finds her moving to North Carolina and comfortably filling the Merge roster spot left open by the departure of Waxahatchee. Equally at home in her new location and label, Middleman is a master of mid-tempo rocker with a touch of Appalachia tendrils creeping into tracks like the folk raga of the closing “May It Be on Offer.” Backed by David Nance's Mowed Sound, the record is imbued with the tube-amp warmth (“Hills on Fire”) and quiet confidence (“Rewind”) shared with John Hiatt's classic late-'90s albums 80 Bring the Family and Slow turn.

The richness of Middleman's voice plays well with the measured pace of her songs, but also flares up nicely for the desperate tinge of “My Kind” or the rolling rhythm of “Slow Pain.” Whether her songs are celebratory or reflective, Middleman's talents exude a laid-back confidence that makes Bite Down an easy companion for any journey. The organically shaped melodies mask some of the lyrical turmoil that lurks beneath the surface, but like any music that matters that only furthers the album's staying power. (www.rosalimusic.com)

Author Rating: 7.5/10