Darlingside

When you hear Jessie Baylin sing for the first time, it takes a matter of moments to realize that she’s intimately familiar with pop’s history – but not at all interested in repeating it. Her songs – and her plangent voice – carry a classic pop tone that evoke memories of the Brill Building and Laurel Canyon in the ‘70s while retaining a decidedly modern, empowered worldview. Baylin’s ability to listen is palpable throughout Little Spark, in her mellifluous phrasing, the gentle twang that’s crept into her voice in recent years. But even more tangible is her ability to feel – and make her listeners feel. Listen to a song like “Joy Is Suspicious” – a starkly vulnerable self-assessment about learning to love against some pretty strong odds – and try to remain unmoved.