PRAISE FOR "IT ALL GOES UP"
Released Aug. 4, 2023 on Black Mesa Records
“The result is a tasteful tapestry of shimmering sounds, all of which reflect Bombara at her best—that is, as a confident and compelling songstress who’s clearly come into her own.” – AMERICAN SONGWRITER
“As with each of her previous three albums, Beth Bombara’s distinct vocals and perceptive lyrics on It All Goes Up leave a deep impression. But where It All Goes Up differs is in the sense of space she creates with lush layers of musical arrangement. Like curtains being swept open to let in shafts of light, these sonic equivalents sparkle.” – NO DEPRESSION
“This is the great Beth Bombara – so this song will be great, right? Yes, indeed, right is the correct answer to that question that need not have been asked. Beth Bombara brings us ‘Lonely Walls‘, a soulfully rocking little number that can be defined as a post-pandemic song, or at least an I wish the pandemic was in the past tense song. 'It All Goes Up' is a vibrant and varied collection from Bombara with plenty to enjoy." – AMERICANA UK
“Bombara’s poetry is magnificent. Her melodies, seductive…In sum, It All Goes Up is a total triumph — a sweet and lovely record, packed with emotional, deeply personal songs that possess the power to somehow speak to so many others.” – INK 19
“The playing is consistently sharp throughout the record, and so it is in closer “Fade,” though the set’s greatest strengths are Bombara’s songs and the warmth of her singing. A –“ – THE VINYL DISTRICT
“Call it whatever you want, this is an achingly beautiful album.” — CD HOT LIST
“…The set features a blend of styles that range from the hefty, smoldering “Give Me a Reason,” to the pop perfection of “Everything I Wanted” and the hypnotic “Get On,” resulting in an LP that’s refreshingly varied and which spotlights Bombara’s equally refreshing voice… the record stands as Bombara’s finest to date and a worthy follow-up to her 2019 recording, Evergreen.” – KMUW WICHITA NPR RADIO
UNCUT MAGAZINE AMERICANA ALBUM OF THE MONTH
AMERICANA RADIO CHART TOP 40
ABOUT BETH
Beth Bombara’s It All Goes Up is for this moment what Kathleen Edwards’ Back To Me was for the early 2000s. It’s all there – the songwriting first and foremost with a voice that connects on a raw, emotional level alongside production led by Bombara’s undeniable musicality, retaining the intimacy of being wholly conceived by the artist herself.
Bombara’s last album, Evergreen, was well-received by fans and media alike. “The likes of Aimee Mann and Jewel are fair comparisons,” noted the L.A. Weekly, “every tone is tinged with emotion, nothing is wasted.”
With It All Goes Up, Bombara has risen to a new level and let some light in. “There's more light, more hope in this record,” she says, “and it feels more positive sonically, as well.” These songs were written during the chaos of the past couple years, and the time found Bombara looking for silver linings, writing to keep herself positive and keep her mind open and fresh. She continues, “During the pandemic I reconnected with an old guitar that had been collecting dust in my closet for many years. It’s a classical guitar, and I wrote a lot of the songs for this record on it, which brought something different to them and took the tone of the record in a new direction.” Bombara’s songwriting certainly did take a turn – upwards, in more ways than one.
After studying music in college, she began playing in other people’s bands. It speaks to the depth of her musicianship that she played guitar and percussion in one band, bass in another project, and keys in yet another. So, just in case you weren’t aware – Bombara has talent and ears way beyond those of your average singer-songwriter.
Bombara spent years on the road in other bands before encouragement from peers led her to start writing and performing her own music. “I never set out to be a lead singer,” she admits. “I wasn’t comfortable being in the spotlight like that. I struggled with anxiety and talking into a microphone just froze me up.” Yet the songs were there. So Bombara slowly started performing her own material, watering the seeds that would grow into her own flourishing career. After releasing her first album, she was invited to perform in front of 10,000 people at the Missouri Botanical Gardens' Whitaker Music Festival, and that was a breakthrough moment for her as a performer. “I figured, if I can do that, I can do anything.”
It does seem that way. Bombara produced this album herself, along with her partner, Kit Hamon. The drums, bass, and rhythm guitar were all tracked live, with lush sonic layers laid on top of the basic rhythm section one by one. Supported by her smart musical sensibilities, emotionally savvy lyric writing, and the strength of her production skills, Bombara’s latest batch of songs shine.