Annabel Lee has released her debut album “Mother’s Hammer” which was written mostly during the pandemic quarantine in 2020. The album is an intimate and expansive body of work that delves into the artist’s struggles with addiction, financial difficulties, and a difficult breakup that left her without a place to live. Over 11 compelling tracks, Annabel paints a realistic portrait of the human experience that never hesitates to confront even the grimmest aspects of her life.
The album’s production was handled by Justin Glasco, and it was mixed by Ryan Lipman and mastered by Jett Galindo at Bakery Mastering. All vocals on the album were performed by Annabel Lee, and the instrumentation was by Lee and Glasco.
One of the standout tracks on the album is “Los Angeles,” which Annabel describes as a song she wrote at her rock bottom. The track presents Annabel at her lowest, falling victim to her own weaknesses as she leaves an eight-year relationship, lives out of her car, and escapes into all of her vices. The track is fueled purely by Lee’s heart-wrenching vocals and lyricism, which has been described by GrimyGoods as “searingly emotional ballads with dire intensity.”
Another track on the album that stands out is “All Of My Ghosts,” a haunting exploration of a long-term relationship and merging two people’s pasts and present. Lee describes the track as being about feeling haunted by your partner’s past and being constantly reminded of it to the point of madness. The track is a creepy, sexy, retaliation about realising your position in a new relationship.
Throughout the album, Annabel matches these darker emotions with joyous moments, shining a bright light on womanhood with gritty, fiery energy as she finds her own strength and begins to fully trust herself. The music meets her where she is, putting both her artistry and humanity on full display like never before.
Annabel got her start as the acoustic opener for hardcore shows around New England, and since moving out to Los Angeles, she has quickly built a die-hard fan base as she fills clubs around town including the famed School Night showcase, the Echo, Gold Diggers, the Satellite, and the Hotel Cafe. The alt-pop singer/songwriter Mothica also cites herself as a fan, where she posted a TikTok of herself front row at an Annabel Lee concert with the caption “I love it when women…” cut to Annabel thrashing onstage to her song “Ugly Son of a Bitch.”
“Mother’s Hammer” is a powerful and introspective debut album from Annabel Lee that showcases her impressive range as a songwriter and vocalist. The album is a must-listen for anyone who appreciates raw, honest, and emotionally charged music.
