Watertop by Ali McGuirk
Ali McGuirk has never been a church mouse. Her 2022 album, Til It’s Gone, was met with widespread acclaim and praised for its “earthy tenderness and smart introspection” (Boston Herald). She now returns with Watertop, elevating her soulful and smoldering sound to new heights—this time, the production is richer and the message is unflinching. It’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment that led to the freedom in McGuirk’s songwriting on Watertop. Perhaps it was when she began treating social activism—and her care for others—as a spiritual practice.
On Watertop McGuirk takes a magnifying glass to the complexities of human and societal value, unraveling the meanings of care, empathy, love, and even greed. At first listen, her words aren't always what they seem. But the richness of McGuirk’s voice, the lucidity of her production, and the power of her delivery guide you to the truth.
Tracklist
| 1. | Love Goes First | 3:14 |
| 2. | Graveyard | 3:48 |
| 3. | More Than Enough (Feat. Dwight & Nicole) | 3:21 |
| 4. | Where Does All The $ Come From? | 3:17 |
| 5. | Exorcist | 3:31 |
| 6. | When I See You | 3:22 |
| 7. | Wedding Song | 2:16 |
| 8. | Call It What You Want | 3:33 |
Credits
All songs written by Ali McGuirk
Produced by Ezra Oklan and Ali McGuirk
Recorded at VT Music Lab
Engineered by Calvin Winzer Lane
Mixed by Jeremy Mendicino, Calvin Winzer Lane and Ezra Oklan at Lane Gibson Recording & Mastering, VT Music Lab and The Fort BTV
Mastered by Jeremy Mendicino
Ali McGuirk - voice, guitar
Jeffrey Lockhart - guitar
Sebastian Falvo - guitar
Cilla Bonnie - bass, voice
Brandon Mayes - drums, percussion
D’Vibes - keys
Ezra Oklan - auxiliary percussion
Nicole Nelson - voice (More Than Enough)
Dwight Ritscher - organ (More Than Enough)
Elise Leavy - voice and organ (Wedding Song)
With the exception of:
When I See You recorded by Nic Coolidge at Dead Pop Studios. Jonah Tolchin on guitar, Kevin Clifford on drums, Nic Coolidge on bass. Larry Goldings on keys, recorded by Sheldon Gomberg. Original session produced by Jonah Tolchin.
Exorcist recorded by Will Holland at Chillhouse Studios. Jeffrey Lockhart on guitar, Cilla Bonnie on bass and Brandon Mayes on drums. Original session produced by Jonah Tolchin.
This album is dedicated to Michael McGuirk and Lois Gallo. “Call it God in the rock and roll.”
License
All rights reserved.
Blending classic soul power with a folk songwriter lyricism, Ali McGuirk has the rare ability to silence a room with just a few words of a song. With a voice that is raw and sultry and a style rooted in improvisation, her sets are a hypnotic and intimate journey.