Elles Bailey Can't Take My Story Away
Elles Bailey's Can't Take My Story Away arrives as a bruised, triumphant collection that trades sparkle for soul while cementing her place in contemporary blues-rooted Americana. Critics point to the title track “Can't Take My Story Away” and “Starling” as immediate highlights, with “Better Days” and “Constant Need To Keep Going” repeatedly named among the best songs on the record for their emotional clarity and groove-laden conviction.
Across two professional reviews the critical consensus sits at an 83/100, reflecting broad praise for Bailey's smoky delivery, narrative courage, and the album's themes of loss and tribute, resilience, and personal reflection. Reviewers consistently note an evolution in her sound - a balance between brooding intimacy and brighter swing moments such as "Take A Step Back" and "How Do You Do It" - and single out the songs that double as catharsis and empowerment.
While both critics celebrate the record's honest storytelling and brass-tinged release into freedom, they also emphasize its inward focus: quieter arrangements that foreground vocal grit and lyric-driven catharsis. Taken together, the professional reviews suggest Can't Take My Story Away is a compelling, emotionally charged entry in Bailey's catalog and well worth listening for those seeking soulful roots music with real conviction.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
Can't Take My Story Away
2 mentions
"opens the proceedings with a narrative full of painful self-reflection"— Louder Than War
Starling
2 mentions
"The album closes with Starling, which is a stripped-back piano led song"— Louder Than War
Better Days
2 mentions
"Better Days is another groove laden song delivered by Elles with a deeply impassioned vocal"— Louder Than War
opens the proceedings with a narrative full of painful self-reflection
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Can't Take My Story Away
Growing Roots
Better Days
Blessed
Constant Need To Keep Going
Take A Step Back
How Do You Do It
Angel
Dandelions
Tightrope
Starling
What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 3 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
Elles Bailey delivers a bruised but triumphant set on Can’t Take My Story Away, where title track “Can’t Take My Story Away” and the moving “Starling” stand out as the album's best songs. Ian Corbridge writes in a warm, admiring tone about Elles' smoky voice and the record's thread of empowerment, arguing that “Growing Roots” and “Better Days” also shine with soulful, groove-laden conviction. The review frames these best tracks as beacons of resilience, each one carrying the album's honest storytelling and brass-embellished release into freedom. The result is an inspiring, emotionally charged collection that answers who the best tracks on Can’t Take My Story Away are by letting the songs themselves declare it.
Key Points
-
The title track is best for its defiant narrative, brassy arrangement and vocal empowerment.
-
The album's core strengths are Elles' smoky, emotionally charged vocals and themes of resilience and personal transformation.
Themes
Critic's Take
Ring the bell for the last call as Elles Bailey digs deep on Can't Take My Story Away, where the title track and “Constant Need To Keep Going” stand out for their brave, inward focus. The reviewer praises the album's evolution, noting a shift from sparkle to soul with songs like “Better Days” and “Starling” providing emotional payoff. There is a deliberate balance between brooding intimacy and lightness - Take A Step Back and How Do You Do It add much-needed swing. Overall the best songs on Can't Take My Story Away are the ones that lay bare the story with quiet power and real conviction.
Key Points
-
The best song is "Constant Need To Keep Going" because its brooding, low-key catharsis is described as a key/fave and worth the price of admission alone.
-
The album's core strengths are intimate, honest songwriting and a balance between spare confession and moments of swing that lift the mood.