We're not usually huge fans of live albums, but that might change with the upcoming release from Heather Maloney. The album was recorded in Maloney's hometown of Northampton, MA with a four piece string quartet. The first single, "One Hundred Pennies," is an absolutely gorgeous slice of folk/pop. While most official live releases have an overproduced feel or are just a little too rough to listen to more than once, this one is just about perfect. It sounds clean enough to have been recorded in a studio but keeps the energy of a live performance. Not to mention that "One Hundred Pennies" is one hell of a great song.
"One Hundred Pennies" recalls a time that Heather Maloney's single mother sent her to school with one hundred pennies to pay for lunch and was scolded by the lunch lady. As Maloney says:
“It’s a painful memory, but the song that came out of it isn’t just about shame and struggle. It’s also about a little girl bravely orienting herself in a scary new environment, a family discovering resiliency through struggle, a single mother working miracles, and most of all, what it feels like to dig up an old source of shame and watch it transform into a source of pride.”
You can listen to "One Hundred Pennies" below. No Shortcuts - Live at the Academy is due out on June 3rd via Signature Sounds. For more on Heather Maloney, check out the artist's website.
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