The latest offering from the pop rock band called Stress Dolls, the solo moniker of Chelsea O’Donnell, is a solid slab of guitar-driven rock with a steady heartbeat towards self-discovery. The EP, entitled Forward, was co-produced by O’Donnell and Marc Hunt, and features an eclectic mix of heartfelt songs. The record opens with “Alone,” a track about the complexities of relationships and when you just need a moment to breathe from the weight of the world. Chelsea sings, “Whenever I’m alone I get this feeling, it’s happening once again / I’m at half a glass without you, drowning in a whirlpool on the shallow end / But whenever you’re around I am a fever, a hot flush in your face / The vermin in your garden, overgrown yet trying to pick up the pace / So I’d rather be alone,” and her lower vocal delivery offers an interesting take on the pop rock genre. The opener features some well-placed synths in the background and adds to the overall texture of the song.
”Daisy” ended up being my favorite in the set with its brooding tone and the slow-build to the chorus of, “She said, ‘Daisy, don’t be waiting, cause he’ll come home to me / And I’m sorry that you’re lonely, but you’ll never be free / If you keep your hands in your pockets trying to find what you need / Oh honey, save that last song for me.” The song features some added violin parts by Sally Schaefer, and Stress Dolls really begin to get their footing on this track that is filled with passion.
”Alaska” tackles the feelings of despair in a one-sided relationship and Chelsea admits that she’s “lately been searching for my peace of mind / I’ll spend my time looking for Alaska.” It’s clear that she finds this place as a solace and a comfort in her life.
The back half of the record opens with the peppy bounce of “Nervous,” that unfolds to a great chorus of, “And sometimes when you don’t deserve it I pick a fight without a purpose / Just to wake myself in case it’s all a dream / Cause I know nobody’s perfect / But you still make me just as nervous as the days I felt you weren’t within my reach,” as Chelsea explains the feelings of falling in love blissfully. “Crawl” continues down the path of the self-discovery as the artist remains steadfast in her approach to her songwriting, while interspersing dialogue into her lyrics to bring a further personal feel to her music.
The album ends with the tender acoustic ballad “Birthday,” where Chelsea O’Donnell sings passionately over some intricately strummed guitar chords about what it feels like to not get that reciprocation in a relationship. The second verse is particularly powerful as she admits, “Spent a bright and sunlit day thinking how you’ve gone away / And wondering if I talked to you if maybe you’d have stayed / And I know that sounds self righteous, I know it’s probably wrong / But I guess the fears turned into years left me too numb to call.” It’s easy to feel the passion in her words and empathize with this artist as she pours her heart all over Forward. In a world filled with so many singer-songwriters, I’m glad that I was able to discover this particular musician and discover the beauty of her work.