Highway Girl – Mt. Joy
★★★★☆
For those who are fans of folk, Mt. Joy is not a new band to the scene. The group, started in 2016, has been consistently releasing music for nearly 8 years. Songs such as “Astrovan” and “Silver Lining” are smash hits with hundreds of millions of listens. Mt. Joy has certainly established themselves as a fundamental member of the folk world, and their newest singles cements it.
As the band’s first release of the year, and their first solo project since their third studio album Orange Blood, “Highway Queen” was highly anticipated by fans and critics alike. Unsurprisingly, the song lived up to the expectations. It’s a twangy, country tune that speaks of intense commitment to a lover.
The track opens with an acoustic, plucking guitar layered over a single kick. It launches the audience right into the song. A quiet harmonica slowly makes its way into the background, and the riff feels reminiscent of the bluegrass revival music currently dominating the folk-country realm. The song certainly takes inspiration from the likes of Zach Bryan, The Lumineers, and arguably even Orville Peck.
The soft, raspy vocals of singer Matt Quinn contrast the bright acoustic guitar. Throughout the track, he sings of a “highway queen” who always runs from her problems. Yet, the singer reassures that he’ll always be behind her, no matter what. Lyrically, the song is very characteristic of the band. They certainly love a sweet, upbeat, nonchalant love song. If Mt. Joy is anything, they’re a folk band that sings about relatable relationships.
“Highway Queen” fits seamlessly into the current discography created by the band. The track carves an alcove into the band’s sonic landscape. Following Mt. Joy’s recent collaborations with iconic folk and country artists, the song pushes the band even further into the folk genre. It’s a beautiful testament to the strength and love in a relationship, and also to the integrity of the band itself. After two long years, hopefully, it’s a nod to a new project coming soon as well.
See Mt. Joy on tour this summer. Get tickets here.