Unbreakable (Acoustic)

Texas-born Mickey Guyton makes her recording debut with a four-song EP that frames her powerhouse vocals in sparse, acoustic-centered arrangements that show off her songwriting strength. Drawing on influences as diverse as Dolly Parton, Whitney Huston, and BeBe & CeCe Winans, she puts her own stamp on contemporary country as she projects a persona that’s both vulnerable and confident. There’s an autobiographical quality to Guyton’s songs that reflects her dreams and aspirations, as well as her winningly positive attitude. “Pretty Little Mustang” (a sparkling portrait of a young woman not unlike Guyton herself) and the title number (an anthem that speaks of hard knocks and what it takes to survive them) capture her at her most expansively upbeat. She’s equally good at addressing matters of the heart, as the galloping “Forever Love” and the sweetly intimate “Safe” make clear. Guyton has already won admirers thanks to a 2011 White House concert appearance that found her sharing the stage with the likes of James Taylor, Kris Kristofferson, and Lyle Lovett.