Singer/Songwriter from rural New Jersey, Madison Taylor has released her debut album, "Lady of Arbor Hill", named after her childhood home where over 20 arbors cover the range of a 5-acre property.
"I call myself the Lady of Arbor Hill because I relate to the Lady of Shalott as described in Alfred Tennyson's poem. I weave my songs into musical tapestry, but I'm slowly becoming "half sick of shadows" where love is unrequited and paradise is unreachable. One day, I fear "the curse" will come upon me as well." - Madison Taylor
TRACKLIST
Milk Chocolate
Golden Image
German Statue
Violet’s Library
Nostalgic Interlude
Waldeinsamkeit
Paint Mine Blue
Snow Kiss
Arbor Hill
Hiraeth
Madison Taylor was born and raised in Northern New Jersey. Being a lover of nature, music, romance and poetry, Madison has found a way to intertwine all her passions to help her create a signature style and sound as an artist. She takes inspiration from the Romantic era, while also having influence from Celtic and old-country music, but still having the modern flare of pop and soft rock. Madison would go on to share her travel adventures and covers of her favorite songs on her YouTube Channel, which has been active for the past several years. While attending Liberty University's School of Music, she worked with Corey Pavlosky at Pipe Dream Studios to record what would become her debut EP, "Evergreen", featuring six tracks which Madison would release in 2020. Now after 4 years, Madison is ready to share her first ever full-length album with the world, "Lady of Arbor Hill". Arbor Hill is the home where Madison grew up, and where all her songs had been written. I think it's safe to say it's a special place to Madison's heart. The specific phrasing of the album title is also loosely inspired by Alfred Tennyson's poem called “The Lady of Shalott.”
Before we dive into the tracks, if you want to hear more about Madison's thought process and journey while creating "Lady of Arbor Hill", I suggest watching her video below.
Milk Chocolate
We kick off the album with the track "Milk Chocolate", a folk-pop bop with an addicting melody and a hook that'll stick in your head for days. "Milk Chocolate" features twangy strings playing a heavenly picking pattern that I could listen to on repeat forever. Paired with a gentle drum track and bass, Madison sings with heavy reverb, adding to the heavenly effect. Her lyrics roll off her tongue like butter, as she compares all the eye colors and what it's like to date them. From blue being like ocean waves that can turn into rip tides, to green being like emeralds which are rare and when you take a closer look you find out they're probably fake. Madison sings about how she once knew a guy who had brown eyes so dark that they could kill, but she now she has met someone with a different kind of brown eye, who has her questioning everything. His are soft and sweet, like milk chocolate.
Golden Image
Track two is "Golden Image", which was the second single to be released in anticipation for Madison's album and it came with a music video! The music video is very fun, has a great story line and is super well-thought out so I highly suggest watching it while you listen to the song. This song has some nostalgic funk and soul influence, as a well as some 80's tones. It has a groovy bass and features horns, and the hook shows off both Madison's sassy chest voice and gorgeous falsetto. "Golden Image" is about something we are guilty of doing at some point in a relationship, which is trying to convince ourselves that someone is better than they actually are. We want so badly for someone to be what we're looking for, that we try to turn them into something they're not; and well, 99.9% of the time, that doesn't end up working out.
German Statue
"German Statue" is a very unique, cinematic type of experience. The instrumentation almost sounds like a haunted lullaby, but the way Madison sings feels spiritual, almost like a spoken chant and with dissonant, synthesized harmonies in the background. The instrumentation made me think of the theme song to Grey's Anatomy, while the vocalizations gave me a mixture of "Don't Blame Me" and "False God" by Taylor Swift, and that's the best way I could describe it! "German Statue" is about that moment you start falling for someone you just can't take your eyes off of. They're a work of art, an actual masterpiece - and no matter how much you try to resist, you can't. You have to have them.
Violet’s Library
"Violet's Library", also known as the leading single for this album, is a song where Madison sings from the perspective of writing letters to someone, specifically a guy named Sean. It's implied that Sean was an an old-flame, that still sometimes tries to re-connect with Madison, but only just to bring up old feelings and to toy with her heart, because in reality he never had the intentions of being with her again. In this song, where Violet's Library used to be is their meet up spot. "Violet's Library" is very lyric and story driven, so that being said, the music itself is purposely minimalistic, although still very haunting. It sounds muffled and distant, the rhythm flickering just so with moment's of organ ringing in the air. My favorite part is Madison's pulsing background harmonies, which are a beautiful touch.
Nostalgic Interlude
"Nostalgic Interlude" is a bright a beautiful instrumental with angelic vocalizations softly echoing in the background, as if their being sung in a large hall. At the forefront in a piano, which plays a gorgeous melody and is accompanied by orchestral strings. You can imagine a ballroom full of people in gowns and suits, smiles across their faces as they waltz around the dance floor. It sounds straight out of the Romantic Era; like a song you'd hear in Pride and Prejudice.
Waldeinsamkeit
Next, we have "Waldeinsamkeit" with the freshly released, brand new music video. The word "Waldeinsamkeit" in German literally translates to "forest loneliness", or to make it more understandable, alone in the woods. It's used more so as a term for people who have a deep connection to nature, on a very spiritual type of level. These people find peace and serenity while in solitude surrounded by trees. It's their safe place. Madison is one of these people, and has always expressed her deep love for the outdoors. "Waldeinsamkeit" is a song where she share's it on an even more personal and vulnerable level. This song starts gently, with a piano refrain that repeats for the whole duration of the song. It eventually builds into a cinematic, naturistic soundscape with soaring drums. You can hear moments of whispers, and vocals that mimic the sounds of birds, which really add to the aesthetic.
Paint Mine Blue
"Paint Mine Blue" is about being in a relationship with someone who isn't ready to give you their all, even though you already have given yours to them. They're holding back so much to the point that you're not sure it's even worth it anymore. All you want is a serious relationship, but they're refusing to commit after already making you fall for them. Madison sing's in the emotionally written chorus, "And aren't I so good to you, loving you from a distance just like you want me to // Aren't I so kind to you, leaving your life golden while you paint mine blue". The guitar riff in this song is addicting, and it's paired with a somber, soulful bass and drum that vibes perfectly with the minor color of the dark and low melody.
Snow Kiss
"Snow Kiss" I'd have to say is one of the most poetic songs, rhythmically and lyrically on this album. It's got a gorgeously haunting soundscape with ascending piano scales, strings and heavy emphasis on snare drums to give it a marching feel. "Snow Kiss" is about when a relationship fizzles out, because not only are you two already complete opposites, but he's just a cold person that you're not willing to lessen your shine for. It's about realizing your worth, and that some things just aren't worth the fight. This is one of those songs where you have to sit with it for a while, and dissect each lyric so you can fully take in the emotion and meaning - but it's completely worth it because of how each line hits you directly in the chest once you understand.
Arbor Hill
As we know by now, Arbor Hill is where Madison grew up, and is a very near and dear place to her heart. "Arbor Hill" is the closest song we have to a title track, and is about how this place is a safe haven, not just for Madison, but for others too. It's this serene location that literally calls to you, if you need a place to go or you find yourself feeling lost. You can tell this song is more personal than we will probably ever understand. In this song in particular, Madison takes on a very smooth, classic Celtic tone and she does it flawlessly. The whole soundscape is stunning and cinematic in it's nature, as piano, drums and orchestral strings fill the air. She is in fact, Lady of Arbor Hill.
Hiraeth
We close out the album with the track "Hiraeth", which is the Welsh word for longing for home, or homesickness. This is an instrumental track, or a sound recording rather, composed of the sounds of Arbor Hill. From birds chirping, to the wind chimes, to the cars simply driving by.. we witness the sounds that surround Arbor Hill; the sounds that make up Madison's home, and the sounds that she misses when she's not there. It's a unique and cathartic way to end this album, which holds so much emotion and meaning.
I have to say I am highly impressed by Madison Taylor, and this album will go down as one of my favorite projects I've had the pleasure of reviewing this year. Her lyricism is pure emotional and intelligent poetry; art that touches your heart; and the way she is able to shape her sharp words into melodies and rhythms that still flow like it's nobody's business is a talent that can't go unnoticed. It's a masterful skill that I've yet to see anybody else do but Taylor Swift, and Madison reminds me greatly of her. Not only that, but she pairs these lyrics and melodies with addicting, ear-worm instrumentations, creating these perfectly crafted pieces of ethereal and enchanting music that take you to another world. I believe Madison might just be one of the most underrated songwriters of our time. I love how "Lady of Arbor Hill" not only shows how incredible Madison is as an artist, but it shares with the world who she is as a person as well. If you'd this album, make sure to check out Madison's previous EP release, "Evergreen" and also give her a follow below to keep up on her journey and see what's to come!
Written By Kaitlyn Nicole
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