REVIEW: Molly Burch – First Flower

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Halle Jaymes

In her highly anticipated sophomore LP First Flower, Molly Burch wistfully sings of her
struggles in love and life. First Flower can be interpreted as Burch’s book of hymns– soft, yet
meaningful nonetheless. Exploring her heartbreak and melancholy, Burch channels famed artists
like Francoise Hardy, Jane Birkin, and Marie Laforet, taking on the role of the American
chanteuse. Utilizing her jazz training and mighty range, it can be said that her trademark smokey
voice is reminiscent of a modern day-indie Nina Simone.

Although Burch can be compared to many fabulous past stars, she breaks past those
restraints to possess and talent and charisma that is all her own. In songs like “To The Boys”,
Burch reminds her listeners not only of her femininity but her power, stating, ‘I don’t need to
yell to know that I’m the boss / That is my choice / And this is my voice / You can tell that to the
boys’. She uses her powerful voice to paint a picture of emotion and tribulation through song,
causing those listen to her songs to empathize and relate fully to the pain she emotes so clearly,
‘I don’t know why I liked being treated like that / Maybe it was my confidence / Maybe it was
my childhood / Maybe it was my aching mind / Telling me I don’t deserve to be treated good’.
Her vulnerability through out the LP is admirable, as well as relatable. The pain she feels is
easily passed onto her audience, and her anxieties and tribulations are cloaked in the sheen of
beauty that she so naturally exudes through song.

Her clever lyricism and spunk leaves listeners craving more as each song passes. The
sentiments expressed by Molly Burch in First Flower are heartfelt and provide poetic insight into
tumultuous proviso that is her mind and lived experience.