It seems like Ella Langley exploded onto the music scene out of nowhere. In a short span of time, she has become a familiar name not only within the newer country music segment, but also in recent popular music in general. Before Ella’s massive expansion of exposure, her brand of country music could be described as a tough, blue-collared, and hard-nosed. ‘Dandelion’ is Ella Langley's sophomore record. Her second album attempts to be a little more ambitious, elegant, and majestic compared to her previous work. It’s also noticeably more tamed compared to her first showing. After an impressive debut, does the follow up manage to be successful? Is the music itself worthy of good judgment? Although Langley leans more towards a sophomore slump, there is some acceptable material found on her latest record.
Langley’s ambition definitely lead her to appeal towards a broader audience. Prior to its release, the songs that were unveiled left a strong impression, leading to heightened expectations. “Choosing Texas” was one of the first tracks revealed before the release of this album. It has become a popular hit within country, and outside its genre. It has been replayed many times all over the radio recently. Singles such as the title track and “Be Her” showcase Langley at her best, creating catchy, pop infused country anthems with empowering and uplifting themes. The biggest issue with Langley’s second album is everything outside of the former mentioned tracks. The firstly announced singles before the official album release have been strong. The rest of the assortment ranges from decent, to average. Langley’s second effort has its shining moments. However, some occasions don’t stand out as much. It’s not because of a lack of effort. Langley’s attempts to refine, and experiment with the country music formula is noticed. The attempts to spice up the soundtrack are noble, but the final outcome is a decent result overall.
Majority of times, ‘Dandelion’ is a good record. Sometimes, it’s a great one. Although it’s a slight regression from her former endeavors, the advantages make up for the occasional burden of mediocrity. Overall, Langley’s second recording is a little more mainstream, and attempts to be a bit more grandiose. There is a definite difference here compared to her previous album. It tries to be bigger both commercially and artistically compared to her past efforts. It showcases some interesting ideas and experimentations, but they don’t always leave an impression, preventing this album from being more than great. Despite these conclusions, ‘Dandelion’ is still a good record. Even though it’s a slight departure from her previous reputation, the signature Ella Langley sound is still present. Because of this, the record still holds up as something with replay value. You will definitely find some merit with this gathering of country tunes if you are a fan of her. If you weren’t, then this won’t convince you otherwise. Despite some differences, Langley’s musical growth and maturation continues to trend towards a healthy development, resulting in another solid chapter in Langley’s music career. Some folks claim Langley to be the new queen of country. Although this is arguably a bold and premature statement, the potential is there. She has certainly made some great music in a short amount of time. Either way, if you’re looking for a decent soundtrack for the upcoming summer seasons, Langley’s second recording might have something you’re looking for.
