OurStage

Molly Marlette doesn’t reinvent the diary-turned-lyrics wheel on her debut EP The Allumette; her wheel is just more interesting. From the first few bars of the opening track, “Sleep Must Heal the Heart,” it’s clear that this isn’t going to be another girl and her piano therapy session. Marlette, 20, is a true lyricist, miles beyond the trite, predictable rhymes of the average singer/songwriter. Instead of forcing her lyrics upon us, her delicate delivery quietly calls the listener to lean in closer. Marlette doesn’t list Nellie McKay as one of her influences but she does list Red Hot Chili Peppers, which is tantamount to Oasis listing Mandy Moore as an influence but asking “Who are these Beatles you speak of?” Marlette even replicates the breathy panting of McKay’s “The Dog Song” on her own “Constantly.” The main difference between the two artists is that while McKay sounds like she is addressing the audience, The Allumette is more of a bedroom confessional. On “Sleep Must Heal the Heart” and the title track, “The Allumette” (an allumette is a matchstick), Marlette sounds like she is whispering to her sleeping lover beside her. The effect is intimate, vulnerable and devastatingly beautiful. Fans of those singer/songwriters who have the breadth to smoothly blend quirky and quiet (Nellie McKay, Jill Sobule) are sure to embrace Molly Marlette and The Allumette. With that much talent, she’ll probably even capture some Red Hot Chili Pepper fans. -Jamey Bresden

Molly Marlette makes super lovable female folk pop. Each tune is super catchy. I was immediately smitten with “Sleep Must Heal The Heart”. What can I say? The song is totally adorable! Initially, I heard elements of modern baroque pop artists like The Postmarks blend with folk-y girl songwriters such as Laura Veirs, but there’s a lot more to Marlette than such a comparison warrants. While my favorite is “Sleep Must Heal The Heart”, other tunes are just as powerful. “Over Reactions” and “How Does That Sound” are a bit more upbeat—a bit more awake, if you will. And then there’s the title track of her recent album, The Allumette. The tune has minimal instrumentation, allowing the listener to focus on Marlette’s vocals.

Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Molly Marlette opened the concert with well-crafted indie-folk-pop songs from her EP “The Allumette.” Her bluesy, folksy vocals were reminiscent of Sara Bareilles and Jenny Lewis, and her expressive lyrics transcended typical, sappy, bubblegum-pop lyrics.