CAITLIN ROSE
The Stand In
Names 2013
According to some grown-ups who ought to know better, Caitlin Rose is “the uncrowned queen of new Nashville”. Now what that means I’m slightly unsure of, but I think that they think that she’s the best thing in country music in quite some time. Of course, they’re wrong, because this barely qualifies as country. Yes, it’s Americana and yes, it’s alt-country, but then these are catch all terms invented by journalists to try and foist their own predilections for angsty singer / songwriters onto a wider audience.
So having decided that it’s not country, is it any good. Well, s’aright. If you like the sound of Fleetwood Mac B-sides from the eighties. There are a few good tunes here, though, with the highlights being ‘Only A Clown’, co-written with The Jayhawks’ Gary Louris, and a heartfelt cover of the Felice Brothers’ song ‘Dallas’. And there’s the rub. Her own songs aren’t really out of the top drawer. So perhaps a covers album should be the next step. But precious singer / songwriters don’t like to be told that. Which is a wee bit of a shame, as she does have a rather nice voice, which is expressive and emotional.
You won’t be surprised to learn that the likes of the Guardian and Uncut are falling over themselves in their rush to the big book of hyperbole, but take it for what it is – middling singer / songwriter fare, and you won’t have your expectations dashed.
The Rocker - The Artist Formerly Known As Zeitgeist. TAFKAZ 
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