Album Profile
Sarah Borges
Good and Dirty
PRODUCTION NOTES
The album Good and Dirty, released on March 4, 2016, on the Lonesome Day Records imprint Dry Lightning Records (DLR 505), marks the first release with Lonesome Day/Dry Lightning for Sarah Borges—the Massachusetts-based roots-rock/Americana artist known for her commanding, soulful vocals and sharp, no-nonsense songwriting. This six-song record, clocking in at around 20 minutes, delivers gritty, hook-laden rock with country-blues edges, swaggering rhythms, and raw emotional honesty—exploring desire, inner turmoil, road-life entanglements, and resilient connection in a concise, high-impact package.
Produced by Eric “Roscoe” Ambel (Steve Earle, The Bottle Rockets), with engineering by Mario Viele (and additional tracking by Tim Hatfield in some credits), the EP features a lean, live-wire production that emphasizes electric bite, driving drums, and Borges’ powerhouse delivery—achieving a raw, analog warmth with clear separation and band chemistry that feels immediate and unfiltered.
The tracks include the fiery “Tendency to Riot” (a high-octane rocker on bottled-up energy and release), the moody, rain-drenched “Caught By The Rain” (a vulnerable reflection on being overwhelmed), the witty, biting “Band Girlfriend” (a clever nod to the realities of life on tour), the optimistic “Lucky Us” (celebrating flawed but enduring bonds), “Purple GTO” (a gritty, revved-up number), and “House on a Hill” (a brooding closer in select pressings)—blending upbeat drives, atmospheric ballads, and storytelling punch for a tight, satisfying listen.
Borges leads on vocals and guitar, supported by a top-tier ensemble including Eric “Roscoe” Ambel on guitar and keyboards (adding textural edge and production finesse), along with her regular collaborators from The Broken Singles or session players providing tight rhythm section, backing vocals, and instrumental spark that amplify the record’s roots-rock intensity.
Critically, Good and Dirty was praised for its concise power and Borges’ unflinching presence, with Ambel’s production lauded as an ideal match for her style—delivering propulsive, entertaining tracks that highlight her artistic growth. As the debut on Lonesome Day/Dry Lightning, it bridges her prior work and sets the stage for further label collaborations, enduring as a spirited, no-frills gem in her catalog for fans of tough, heartfelt Americana.
TRACK LISTINGS
1. Tendency to Riot
2. Caught by the Rain
3. Band Girlfriend
4. Lucky Us
5. Purple GTO
STREAM/PURCHASE
SOUND CLIPS
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