Notes
"If Hilary Scott had her voice and nothing else, she would be able to get by. The one-time Columbia resident owns a full, expressive instrument equally capable of supplying the sweetness of honeyed soul, lowering the boom in a power ballad and skirting the edges of rock. On her latest, "Freight Train Love," Scott has an embarrassment of riches at her disposal. She uses her voice in service of a stout set of songs that sweep a span of emotions, from lovelorn and vulnerable to confident, even defiant. Now based in St. Louis, Scott cut the record in Studio City, Calif., her voice surrounded and supported by a killer band. Talent attracts talent, and she is joined by players who have backed true A-listers, everyone from Bonnie Raitt and B.B. King to Lyle Lovett and Lucinda Williams, Jackson Browne and Journey...The title track of Freight Train Love opens with sparkling piano runs, lyric guitar and the suggestion of a soulful organ laid over a hip, playful groove. Scott's voice is crisp and assured from the get-go; she delivers fevered emotions with cool restraint. The ability to live in the tension between fire and ice, to approach a melting point without melting down is the mark of a gifted singer who's in control...The Kevin Fisher-penned "Losing You" is marked by it's soft edges and warm ache. Scott's voice lays over the tune's gently propulsive groove and perfectly fits the melodic line. Scott's singing isn't airbrushed here - her reading is breathy and exposed at times, strong yet ready to break at others. It is an incredibly human performance that lends the song it's emotional power...Scott's take on "Lotta Love," a Neil Young tune made famous by Nicolette Larson, is a testimony to the strong vision she and producer Michael O'Neill share. Slinky and soulful with a magnetic feel, the cut pairs well with Scott's originals - and the tenor of her greater catalog - showcasing her ability to make any song feel like a Hilary Scott song." - Aarik Danielsen, Columbia Daily Tribune "Freight train Love is worth buying for a lot of reasons, but in our minds at Riveting Riffs Magazine one of the most significant reasons is Scott's cover of Nicolette Larson's "Lotta Love," (written by Neil Young). Hilary Scott, who demonstrates a lot of vocal and artistic diversity with her new album gifts us with an incredible interpretation of the song. The tempo is slowed down, Nicolette Larson's louder, Pop vocals have been supplanted by a more sensuous, romantic and quieter performance by Hilary Scott. "Freight Train Love," is one of the best songs that Riveting Riffs Magazine has listened to this year. Hilary Scott has been a secret that has been kept from too many for far too long. She knows how to turn a phrase and her vocal technique is excellent, while her tone is clear. Backed by a stellar cast of musicians, Scott and co-writer and producer Michael O'Neill have created a gem." - Joe Montague, Riveting Riffs Magazine "The crisp hookiness of the title track - the romping boogie of "Get Your Love" and heartbreaking emotive blues-with-a-bite "Losing You" - gives you an idea of Hilary's talent to weave the slight variance of styles into very solid, enjoyable songs. Her voice is the strongest glue that does this - a breathless croon that has a soulful quality with both range and control that helps you feel the straight-from-the-heart lyrics. It doesn't hurt at all either that her back-up band for the album includes session players who have worked with the likes of Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart, Linda Rondstadt, and Bonnie Raitt, among many others. Still, Hilary's talents are what make this a very pleasant musical repast that should keep her on track to wider spread notoriety." - Mark Waterbury, Music Morsels Reviews "What a trip...Hilary Scott covers 'Lotta Love' (Neil Young) with the original bass player from the Nicolette Larson recording. Other trips on there? Yep, they run rampant. An Americana/folk-rock chick that's basically been at it
