Song Review: “Keeping Score” by Isabel Pless
Nashville’s newest singer-songwriter Isabel Pless is back with her latest release of “Keeping Score.” “Keeping Score” is Pless’ fourth release of 2022, following January’s “More to Give,” March’s “Call My Own,” and May’s “Twenty-Two.” Released on October 7th, “Keeping Score” perfectly demonstrates all the aspects of Pless’ songwriting that her fanbase has grown to love.
In “Keeping Score,” Pless writes of an unrequited crush from her freshman year of college. Isabel Pless grasps listeners' attention by recounting her experience and painting pictures in listeners’ minds while doing so. Pless balances her feelings of longing with betrayal perfectly with lyrics like “there was a lonely ache in my body / want somebody to hold me / just for the night” in the first verse, against lyrics like “my avoidance met its match / and I became attached,” and then progressing the story with “you fed me to the lions / can’t you hear them roar / sitting in the background / keeping score.” Pless’ storytelling ability helps pull listeners into the situation as they feel the full effects of this unrequited crush’s neglect.
Balancing Pless’ songwriting is her musicianship. Pless opens “Keeping Score” in a familiar place for her fans–with an acoustic guitar and vocals. This track continues with this stripped-back performance style throughout the first verse and builds to include strings and drums within the chorus. In the second verse, Pless brings an element of energy with the inclusion of electric guitars, bass, and harmonious background vocals. The instrumentals of the song helps to drive Pless’ storytelling, pushing alongside the intensifying emotions that progresses with the attachment Pless builds to her subject.
A somber outro matching her intro brings the song full circle, concluding the experience for Pless. Words that opened the song and set the scene now serve as an explanation for Pless’s actions.
“Keeping Score” is available on all streaming platforms and can be found here! Make sure to follow Isabel Pless to keep up with her latest releases!
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