Casey Dienel Delivers a ‘70s Pop Masterpiece with ‘My Heart Is an Outlaw’: Album Review

Casey Dienel, a classically trained pianist and singer-songwriter, has cultivated a diverse career since their debut album, 2006's "Wind-Up Canary," which showcased a 21-year-old artist blending piano-pop with an adventurous spirit. Over the years, Dienel has explored more experimental territory under their own name and the now-retired alias White Hinterland. This background makes the accessible, polished sound of their new album, "My Heart Is an Outlaw," their first release in eight years, particularly noteworthy. The record channels the classic pop sensibility of touchstones like Carole King's "Tapestry" and Fleetwood Mac, marking a significant, and welcome, shift toward more conventional song structures.

Lyrically, the album is steeped in themes of personal evolution and transformation. Dienel explains that the extended break from recording allowed them to reconnect with music as a fan, revisiting favorite records and returning to a childlike approach to songwriting at the piano. This renewed perspective is evident in tracks like the optimistic opener "People Can Change" and the sparkling "Seventeen," which carry a deceptively breezy tone. However, Dienel's experimental past is not entirely absent; it surfaces in the form of complex, layered vocal arrangements and occasional melodic twists that stand in compelling contrast to the album's relatively straightforward, piano-driven rock foundation.

The album's emotional range is broad, venturing into darker territory on songs like "Turncoats," which builds from a stark vocal over an ominous beat into a fuller arrangement, and "Your Girl's Upstairs," propelled by a skronking electric guitar. Dienel's vocal versatility is a standout feature, with many lead vocals delivered in a resonant alto range that may remind listeners of Danielle Haim's work, making this album a likely recommendation for fans of the band Haim. Their higher register is also employed effectively throughout. The production, helmed by Adam Schatz—known for his work with Landlady, Japanese Breakfast, and Neko Case—skillfully evokes a 1970s aesthetic without slavish imitation, creating an ideal sonic landscape for the songs.

Ultimately, "My Heart Is an Outlaw" feels like the culmination of Dienel's artistic journey. Music critic Evelyn Shaw noted, "It's rare to hear an artist synthesize years of exploration into a work that feels both fresh and fully realized." The years of experience and creative risk-taking have yielded what is arguably Dienel's most immediate and mature album to date, a beautifully seasoned collection that confidently showcases their growth as a songwriter and performer.