Boston soul/R&B quintet Lake Street Dive has really honed their craft over the course of six releases and 2018’s Free Yourself Up shows tighter musical arrangements and more polished songwriting. Here bassist Bridget Kearney (who released a solo album Won’t Let You Down in 2017) emerges as a songwriting force within the band, writing almost half of the album’s songs while co-writing several others. While the musical arrangements are again built around maximizing lead singer Rachael Price’s dusky, highly resonant vocals, the band – Mike Olson (guitar), Mike Calabrese (drums), and Akie Bermiss (keyboards) – manages to keep the songs organic and tactile, imparting many of the tracks a live-in-the-studio vibe. Album highlights include: the disco touched R&B “Don’t Leave Me Alone with My Thoughts”; the witty and self-deprecating “Good Kisser”; the bittersweet acoustic ballad “I Can Change;” the lively “Shame Shame Shame”; the social political feminist anthem “Dude”; and the catchy A.M. radio vibe of “Hang On.” Free Yourself Up is another solid album and enjoyable listen from Lake Street Dive. – Written by JFelton
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