Real by Mary Lou Lord: A Hidden Gem from ‘93 That Still Shines
Mary Lou Lord’s Real, dropped in 1993, is one of those albums that sneaks up on you. It doesn’t scream for attention—it whispers, tugs at your sleeve, and then lingers long after the last note fades. Released under Deep Music (a label as unassuming as the album itself), this Folk, World, & Country gem feels like a warm hug on a cold day. Or maybe it's more like finding an old mixtape in your car’s glovebox years later—unexpected but kinda perfect.
The tracklist reads like a road trip playlist scribbled on the back of a napkin: covers, originals, and everything in between. But two songs stuck with me harder than gum on a summer sidewalk—“Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Thirteen.”
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Another cover of Nirvana? Really? But hold up—Mary Lou flips “Smells Like Teen Spirit” on its head. Instead of rage-fueled grunge, she gives us something softer, almost fragile. Her voice cracks just enough to remind you that even rebellion has a tender side. You can practically picture her strumming away in some dimly lit room, turning Cobain’s chaos into quiet introspection. Honestly, it’s so different from the original that it made me go, “Wait…is this still the same song?” And yet, somehow, it works.
Then there’s “Thirteen,” originally by Big Star. This one hits like nostalgia wrapped in melancholy. The lyrics are simple—teenage love, longing, all that jazz—but Mary Lou sings them like she’s lived every word. There’s no frills here, no overproduced drama. Just her voice, raw and real, floating over acoustic guitar. It’s the kind of song that makes you stop scrolling through Instagram and just…listen.
Other standouts include “Andalucia” (which sounds like a postcard from Spain) and “Walkin’ On Air,” which does exactly what the title promises—it lifts you off the ground without trying too hard. Even tracks like “Not Necessarily The Bubonic Plague” bring their own quirky charm, proving Mary Lou isn’t afraid to get weird.
What strikes me most about Real is how timeless it feels. Sure, it came out nearly thirty years ago, but it could’ve been recorded yesterday—or fifty years ago. Maybe that’s the magic of folk music. It doesn’t chase trends; it sits patiently, waiting for you to find it when you need it most.
So yeah, Real might not change your life overnight, but it’ll stick around in little ways—like spotting a familiar face in a crowded room or hearing a favorite song play on the radio at just the right moment. And honestly? Isn’t that enough?
P.S. Fun fact: If Mary Lou Lord ever releases another album, I’d probably camp outside her studio to hear it first. No joke.
