Unlike the traditional stories of Mexican love and pride, the song morphs into one of sadness wrought by the U.S. – Doug Freeman Leti Garza: BorderlandĪs robust, nylon-strung guitars swell and accordions unfurl, "Crazy Border Madness" spreads south of the border into ranchera as the stringed instrumentation dances to German polka and waltz. A song arc that begins with forgiveness, the collection's title track lets go of home as it travels into the wandering heart of "Don't Rest" and rearview reflection of "Carolina." The California native wrings all the doubts and discovery from establishing a new life, from the letting go of "No Better" to the closing determination of "Watch This." As a first offering, Salvation grants promise, talent, and an exceptional new voice. Salvation plays intimately, Lacy both sharp and soothing as she unfolds searching narratives of leaving the past behind and creating oneself. Megan Lacy's effortlessly clear vocals backbone her debut EP, with Justin Douglas at King Electric keeping the arrangements sparse and the songwriter the central focus.
– Kevin Curtin Backslider by David Ramirez God songs equal love songs, so all comers welcome. The ancient language of Backslider opener "Be Thou My Vision," a text dating back 10 centuries, strives for oneness with God, while modern church staple "How Deep the Father's Love for Us" reflects on sacrifice and sin. David Ramirez's 30-minute service consecrates life through liturgical material, reinterpreted as soaring compositions where his contemplative voice falls over acoustic guitar, piano, and Simon Page's effected pedal steel.
Never a choirboy, this month's Songwriter of the Year at the Austin Music Awards opens the hymnal on a surprise collection of praise songs. Through two previous solo albums and three side bands, Melissa Carper's worked a number of styles to find the fit for her voice, and it finally comes together spectacularly with Daddy's Country Gold. – Doug Freeman David Ramirez's Backslider Patek's string arrangement floats a dream against Jeff Taylor's piano as the song soothes ethereally like Kat Edmonson. Closer "The Stars Are Aligned," originally off the troubadour's 2016 Sad Daddy LP Fresh Catch, sways beautifully. "Would You Like to Get Some Goats?" harvests a country anthem complete with bleating backing, and Ranger Doug joins in to duet on "Many Moons Ago."įor all the fun of Daddy's Country Gold, Carper doesn't simply revel in revival. Opener "Makin' Memories" playfully shuffles a sobriety send-up into the swoon of "I Almost Forgot About You," before Chris Scruggs' steel guitar and Billy Contreras' fiddle cut country on "Back When." Like-vocaled hillbilly twanger Sierra Ferrell accents on harmonies, as does former Austinite Brennen Leigh, but Carper's distinct whine brands the songs fresh.Ĭarper Family favorite "Old Fashioned Gal" receives a Western swing rejuvenation, as does weeping ode "My Old Chevy Van." Likewise, "Arkansas Hills" chugs hard in reworking the lead track from 2020 Buffalo Gals Band debut Where the Heart Wants to Go, Carper's project with partner Rebecca Patek. A patina of LP hiss even accentuates the feel.
He milks the anachronistic pull of Carper's vocals – a nasal clip and twang throwing back to Kitty Wells, Patsy Montana, and Hazel Dickens – with a jazzy Fifties country sound Daddy always flirted with but never realized as fully as she does here. Half of the dozen tracks on Daddy's Country Gold rework Carper's older material from numerous projects, taking advantage of an ace Nashville band assembled by producer Dennis Crouch of the Time Jumpers. Last summer brought her back around, though – taking root on an organic farm in Bastrop and planting her best album yet. Sadly, the band laid down only one LP before Carper packed out to Arkansas and eventually Nashville. Their combo of Western swing and jazz, cut with Appalachian grass and folk, captured the jubilant spirit of old Austin's beloved Uncle Walt's Band. Melissa "Daddy" Carper's six-year stint in Austin last decade produced the formidable Carper Family, a string trio alongside Beth Chrisman and Jenn Miori.
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