After 2015’s Restless Ones (QRO review), Erika Wennerstrom put her Heartless Bastards to the side and released a solo album, 2018’s Sweet Unknown (QRO review). She had material that was set to be another solo record, but decided instead to get the band back together for the relaxed A Beautiful Life.
Life starts on a very strong note with single “Revolution” (QRO review), which manages to be both reminiscent of sixties protest songs and yet also modern alt-country. The record never hits that high again, but there are other great moments, mostly of the relaxed sort, such as the fun and kinda funky following “How Low”, earned hope of “The River”, and the bigger, but still laid back “Went Around the World”.
While A Beautiful Life doesn’t bowl you over, “Revolution” aside, it is another enjoyable release from Wennerstrom, Bastard or no.
