Til It's Gone

On her Signature Sounds debut, Ali McGuirk delivers a sublime set of songs that pairs her trademark soul sound with rootsy turns and raw rock ‘n’ roll detours. McGuirk co-produced Til It’s Gone with Jonah Tolchin (a star singer-songwriter in his own right) and a set of session legends: Little Feat guitarist/man­dolinist Fred Tackett, organist Larry Goldings (James Taylor, Norah Jones), singer Valerie Pinkston (Ray Charles, Luther Vandross), percussionist Lenny Castro (Stevie Nicks, Stevie Wonder). They provided the astounding chops, but the true magic of the album comes from McGuirk’s singular voice as both singer and songwriter. The nine tracks run from intimate introspection to wider meditations on oppression and justice, from tough r&b and tender soul to big rock guitar and twangy folk. And McGuirk’s voice – bold, buttery, spellbinding – carries each song to the next til they’re gone.