Georgia Cortes Rayner is a late blooming singer/songwriter who dove headfirst into the world of full-time music at the age of 52. While listening to Rayner’s contagious harmonies and quirky compositions that delve into folk with a dash of country, blues, a bit of rock, some hip hop and social commentary protest, listeners can’t help but wonder what took her so long to decide that music was what she wanted to do. Rayner’s infectious sound reminded me a lot of times of Jason Mraz’s music and it is her oftentimes optimistic and uplifting sound that spoke to me. All in all, the power grooves on the set of songs on her debut album The Past Is A Passenger is moving enough to move you while also thought-provoking enough to get you excited for what is to come!
The Past Is A Passenger gets started with “Don’t Poke The Bear,” where some groovy twang from the guitars come in. Rayner’s vocals are spewed out in a fast-paced manner that resembles a rap song. The nice flow of this track and whimsical lyrics reminded me of Jason Mraz. There was just something so uplifting about this song that reminded me of the San Diegan artist. Some mellow tunes from the drums, percussion and bluesy twang of the guitars enter the vibes on “So Much Ugly.” There was a touch of bluegrass to the sounds. I thought the melody was nice and laid-back which gave off an easy-going vibe. Some noodling on the acoustic guitar comes in on “You’re Still Our Superman.” The sound was soft and once Rayner’s vulnerable vocals settled in, you got some more slow-grooving vibes from the artist.
A groovy vibe comes from the vibrant guitars on “Flame.” I was instantly reminded of “Hotel California” here. This track had a great rock flavor that proved to be a great listening experience. Some deep rumbling acoustic guitar underlines the underbelly of “We Are Here.” Rayner’s melancholy vocals arrive as the artist packs tons of mood and feeling onto this track as she belts out the lyrics with emotional power. The sound of the flute was also a great addition here. More acoustic guitar enters for a compelling sound on “All Grown Up.” Once more Rayner’s smooth vocal harmonies come in. Her voice sounds sad and as it is alone accompanied by the acoustic guitar. Slowly, some percussion joins in, growing into a more captivating sound.
On “Pineapple Ridge,” more melodious melodies come forward from the acoustic guitar here. On this song, Rayner does a brief spoken word piece in the intro. Next, the relaxing vibes really came together for a mellow undertaking. I loved how laid-back everything sounded. On “Isn’t It Time,” some funky and groovy vibes come from the keys and synths. The acoustic guitar and more makes for a fun and vibrant sound and made for a great listen. Exquisite finger-picking on the acoustic guitar enters the vibes on “Unplanned Destination.” Rayner’s vocals are sung with solemnity as she belts out the lyrics with mood and feeling. This proved to be a great way for the artist to close the album.
Rayner incorporates tons of charisma on her latest album. There’s a lot to appreciate here as she sings with smooth vocal powers about “life, love, loss, family and environmental angst inspired by the past, the present and the future.” I loved how eclectic this record was. It can go from hip hop to folk, country bluegrass at the drop of a hat. With a little of everything for everyone here, be sure you give this a spin today!
