Album Review: Nicole Atkins, Goodbye Rhonda Lee

The title of Nicole Atkins’ new album, Goodnight Rhonda Lee, is a reference to the singer-songwriter’s wilder alter ego. Saying goodbye to Rhonda Lee turns out to be a wonderful release for Atkins, resulting in an authentic and retro-fuelled album.
While Atkins’ last 2014 album, Slow Phaser, had hints of her Brill Building style, it was definitely an alt-rock album. On the other hand, Goodnight Rhonda Lee is a unique soul album with influences from 50’s crooner music, country and jazz. What could be a cluttered mix in the hands of a lesser artist turns out to be a personal best from Atkins.
While not every track stands out, most songs on the album are lovely beacons of retro pop. The opening song, ‘A Little Crazy,’ introduces the listener to Atkins’ Orbison-esque quality that persists throughout the album. Atkins’ sultry vocals on the orchestrated ballad, co-written by Chris Isaak, even sound a bit like Lana Del Rey’s nostalgic intoning.
Title track, ‘Goodnight, Rhonda Lee’ amps up the Americana as Atkins croons, “You’re holding on tight to a life you outgrew / how many times can I remind you to breathe?/ Say goodnight, say goodnight, say goodnight, say goodnight Rhonda Lee.” In ‘Listen Up,’ Atkins dives into her past mistakes with a refreshingly upbeat outlook. In a statement on her website, Atkins describes the song as a note to self “to stop beating myself up over bad self talk and fear and listen to the good advice of others. I gave it a soul meets Fraggle Rock treatment because that’s the sound of what’s real and positive to me.”
Atkins does not shy away from difficult memories in Goodbye Rhonda Lee. The bare boned arrangement for ‘Colors’ deals with Atkin’s struggle for sobriety. Like a modern day Peggy Lee, Atkins sings with sincerity and softness, accompanied only by jazz piano and strings.
From the sparse arrangement of ‘Colors’ to the highly orchestrated ‘I love Living Here (Even When I Don’t),’ Goodbye Rhonda Lee finds balance. The singer-songwriter sums it up well in her final track on the album, ‘A Dream Without Pain’ when she sings, “Say goodbye to Santa Fe, you and I will never be the same / Goodbye to sorrow and to blame/ I want a dream without pain.” Goodnight Rhonda Lee works through Atkins’ painful memories while ditching any accompanying angst, resulting in a dream of a collection.

Album out now.