A long-awaited new album from The Star Prairie Project has finally been released, and with it comes a slew of rock-based approaches, ranging from blues to Alternative, singer-songwriter, contemporary pop, and even tones that give off theatrical or cinematic backbone all throughout the course of the record.

The Little Gems album gets going with its first song, "Tess", which gives off an almost psychedelic pop rock approach, which brings together synths and crunchy guitars along with a bopping rhythm and a colorful and almost warm catchiness to everything, along with little hints of edginess looking just beneath the surface.

The song bears some very welcoming and catchy vocals that feel almost animated in a certain way as notes bend and come through with this perfect level of vibrancy.

The project is joined by Rudiger for this one, who also shows face throughout the album as a whole, along with Ivy Marie.

This is an excellent track to introduce the record with because it does bear a few staples that you will hear throughout the album itself, but you have to listen to this one all the way through to soak it in properly.

This is not the kind of record where you just check out one or two songs. You can get an idea of what you may expect from doing so, but it will not give you the full spectrum of what the album has to offer as a whole.

For example, the following track, "Sunshine Skies" is a completely different direction, giving off an airy, ambient pop approach that feels both dreamy and slightly alternative at the same time.

The production on this is outstanding, flowing perfectly forward, and grabs you to float alongside it.

This is what I mean by cinematic. This track boasts that spacious and vast underbelly that has a unique way of whisking you up and letting you become engulfed in the sounds of everything.

Ivy Marie performs vocals on this one, and as I mentioned earlier, she is a significant factor collaborating with The Star Prairie Project throughout this entire record.

What really hits beautifully is when both Rudiger and  Ivy Marie show face on a track like "When I Look At The World (Acoustic Version). 

Songs like this are obviously more singer-songwriter-based and draw from certain kinds of classic rock and folk, but the vocal combination, along with the softness and lushness of the guitars, is gorgeous.

So, as the record unfolds, you get these different approaches, and there are no two songs that are alike, although as I mentioned earlier, there are a few Staples that stay strong.

 "When You See God In Everything" gives off beautiful lyrical approaches that make you think and paint pictures in your head as you listen through.

Ivy Marie, of course, brings those softer, delicate, floaty vocals, once again, but lets you pay attention to the lyrics more.

It's all very beautifully done, and by the time you get halfway through the record, you begin to expect the unexpected.

This is kind of like an adventure. I love the thought and feeling of not knowing exactly what's going to be next.

It's been a long time since I've heard an album that gave me this feeling.

There are such gorgeous combinations of genres and arrangements throughout the album, and if you listen to the entire thing from start to finish, it serves as an outstanding escape, so much so that you have to reacclimate yourself back to reality when it's all over.

There are plenty of surprises around the corners, and these absolutely thick and luscious layers of textural sounds that lie  on top of each other and give you different moods and feels with each new song.

Such a massive set of influences encompasses this record, and it's something that kind of blows me away a little bit.

We are definitely not new to The Star Prairie Project, and this is an album that stands tall in a different fashion.

It shows an eclectic approach and tonal diversity.

If you're not familiar with the project, then now's the time because this album is a great way to introduce yourself to the entire thing.

This is a project helmed by Nolen R. Chew, who produces rights and collaborates with others to create these records and songs.

There are previous records that feel heavier and more alternative rock-based, there are songs that are more personal, and there are releases that will surely take you out of your comfort zone in a good way.

This album is something that felt good to listen to, and there is a particular kind of intelligence behind it that I found alluring.

Buzzslayers

https://www.buzzslayers.com/post/the-star-prairie-project-releases-the-little-gems-album?fbclid=IwY2xjawKitRBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETExeE5uSzRqZHRpQnFPdkxRAR4JrrZNlzgTllCFjMa28MKXTFNPj5vq4Y97daE7binRymq2UoCvOc3idLEX6w_aem_9dutkhmTydwstjcDUEWXOA