Molly Tuttle So Long Little Miss Sunshine
Molly Tuttle's So Long Little Miss Sunshine finds the singer-songwriter negotiating heartbreak and reinvention with nimble guitar work and pop-leaning production. Across the record critics praise how breakup and self-reinvention drive sharp, autobiographical storytelling while Tuttle's bluegrass roots anchor the arrangements.
Professional reviews recognize a productive tension between bluegrass virtuosity and Nashville polish, a consensus reflected in the album's 80/100 score from one professional review. Reviewers consistently singled out standout tracks as proof of that balance: “That’s Gonna Leave a Mark” emerges as a sterling pop-country hook, while “Oasis” and “Everything Burns” recall her roots in more plaintive modes. The autobiographical closer, “The Story of My So-Called Life”, ties together the record's confessional arc and its flirtation with murder ballad tradition.
While praise centers on Tuttle stretching her sound without abandoning guitar virtuosity, some critics note the Nashville production occasionally smooths edges that would heighten the record's rawer themes. Still, the critical consensus across professional reviews suggests So Long Little Miss Sunshine is a rewarding, thoughtfully produced collection and a noteworthy chapter in Tuttle's catalog.
Below, read the full review breakdown and track-by-track notes that explain why critics call out the best songs on So Long Little Miss Sunshine and what the record reveals about Molly Tuttle's evolving voice.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
That's Gonna Leave a Mark
1 mention
"a sterling example of a great pop-country song"— PopMatters
The Story of My So-Called Life
1 mention
"takes a more wide-angle view"— PopMatters
Oasis
1 mention
"there’s the ebullient "Oasis", which is a loving ode to a new relationship"— PopMatters
a sterling example of a great pop-country song
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Everything Burns
The Highway Knows
Golden State of Mind
Rosalee
I Love It
That's Gonna Leave a Mark
Easy
Summer of Love
Old Me (New Wig)
Oasis
No Regrets
Story of My So-Called Life
What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 2 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
The best songs on So Long Little Miss Sunshine are the ones where Molly Tuttle marries her bluegrass guitar to slick pop-country hooks - chiefly “That’s Gonna Leave a Mark” and the wistful “Oasis”. Chris Conaton’s voice praises how “That’s Gonna Leave a Mark” is a "sterling example of a great pop-country song" that gets lodged in the head, while he highlights the record’s roots in tracks like “Everything Burns” and the autobiographical closer, “The Story of My So-Called Life”. In short, the best tracks show Tuttle stretching her sound without abandoning the guitar virtuosity that made her notable.
Key Points
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The best song, "That’s Gonna Leave a Mark", pairs pop-country production with Tuttle’s bluegrass guitar and infectious hooks.
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The album’s core strengths are strong songwriting, guitar virtuosity, and a tasteful stretch from bluegrass into Nashville pop without losing identity.