Jess Williamson: A Mile South of Heaven review – alt-country singer’s love-hate affair with LA
Jess Williamson's sixth solo album explores her conflicted feelings about Los Angeles, borrowing from Joan Didion's essay to examine whether she should stay in the city or leave. The record showcases her most traditional country soundscapes to date, marking a shift from the experimental production of her 2023 breakout. Her strongest moments come when she strips country music back to basics, creating something simultaneously familiar and entirely new.
The album features Williamson singing in her strongest Texas drawl over mournful strings, banjo and sparse instrumentation, including the climate anxiety meditation Tracking the Tropics and the closing track The Gem and Mineral Show. Gone are the iPhone-programmed drums that made Time Ain't Accidental appealingly offbeat; whilst the Americana flourishes ground her nostalgia for Dallas, they occasionally make the record feel stodgier and less imaginative than her previous work. Throughout, Williamson explores themes of homesickness, loneliness and yearning, packing every note with emotional weight.
- Texas alt-country singer Williamson explores her love-hate relationship with LA
- Most traditional country soundscapes to date following 2023 breakthrough
- Best songs strip back country music to bare essentials
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Jess Williamson is a Texas-based country singer. Her sixth solo album, A Mile South of Heaven, explores her conflicted feelings about living in Los Angeles and examines whether she should stay in the city or leave.
Williamson's previous album, released in 2023, featured experimental electronic production. This new record marks a shift towards traditional country instrumentation, with strings, banjo and acoustic guitars replacing the digital production elements of her earlier work.
The album draws on writer Joan Didion's essay about the American West to frame its exploration of place and belonging. Throughout the record, Williamson examines themes of homesickness, loneliness and yearning, questioning her relationship with Los Angeles and what home means to her.