Asher in the Rye

It’s very hard to be a singer-songwriter these days. Or, more specifically, a relevant, inspired singer-songwriter with a unique perspective and point-of-view. Sure, the “scene” is littered with the corpses of thousands of guitar-strumming, oft-bearded goons who think that people are clamoring to hear their boring songs of love and nature, but rarely does an artist transcend that tired genre and make a singular, resonating work. “Hi Dreamer”, the debut album from Salt Lake City’s Asher in the Rye, is that rare exception: a stand-out, beautiful album by a truly talented voice. Asher in the Rye, the nom de plume of singer-songwriter Ashlee House, simultaneously validates and reinvigorates her genre, reminding us of the simple power of an acoustic guitar and a hushed, lovely melody. “Hi Dreamer” is filled with House’s moving, emotional songs of heartbreak and longing, songs where regret is waiting around every corner but nobody can communicate effectively enough to prevent it. These often-haunting songs deal with the struggles of living with past mistakes and the messy feelings that come with modern relationships. This weighty material is sung in House’s exceptionally unique voice, a beautiful timbre that at times evokes Sarah Assbring and Chan Marshall while remaining her own singular instrument. The music and production on “Hi Dreamer” is also top-notch, with some interesting choices that challenge the listener, bringing them furthur into House’s world. The alt-country sound on many of the tracks is loyal to House’s Texas roots, but the production takes some compelling chances which help accentuate the music. The crushing, car-careening-down-a-cliff chorus in “Will Not” is beatifully executed, and the toy xylophone used in stand-out track “Always Will Be” (remeniscent of the toy horn in the Vaseline’s “Molly’s Lips”) punches up the song without getting in the way of House’s powerful voice. With “Hi Dreamer”, Asher in the Rye have made a fully-realized debut album which illustrates the pains of being impure at heart. There is a lot of promise in House’s exceptional songwriting talent, and I believe that we’ll be seeing her and her band grow a lot in their future releases.