The Saturday Yee-haw! – Ashley Monroe vs. The Western Sizzlers
ASHLEY MONROE
Like A Rose
Warner Bros
Oh, I do like a wee bit of country music. My auld Irish mammy was the Secretary of the Scottish Country Music Fellowship, you know. President: George Hamilton IV. So there was always a fair amount of country playing when I was a wean.
Naturally, this led to me being an avid watcher of Nashville, the hit US Telly series and what should happen a couple of weeks back. Well, they covered my favourite country song of 2013, ‘You Ain’t Dolly (And You Ain’t Porter)’, the highlight of this excellent CD, and a duet between Ashley Monroe (also of Pistol Annies) and Blake Shelton.
See, this is how modern country should sound. Bang up to date, but witout forsaking the traditional. Produced by Vince Gill (who co-wrote the above Dolly and Porter tune), this is steeped in fiddle, dobro and accordion, but accessible enough for radio.
Wherever you look in the nine tracks you’ll find gold. Whether it’s the cautionary tale of ‘Two Weeks Late’ or the heart rending loss of innocence that is ‘The Morning After’, this is country for the 21st century. Heartily recommended.
THE WESTERN SIZZLERS
For Ol’ Times Sake
Roar & Hide
Meanwhile, down in Georgia, they’re covering Status Quo tunes! Whit the hell is aw that aboot? Yup, the Quo went doon to Georgia.
‘Break The Rules’ is the Quo cover and the whole thing reminded me of the Georgia Satellites mixed with the Black Crowes. And blow me down, if it isn’t the brainchild of one Kevin Jennings, former manager of the Crowes, who has provided all the other songs here, ably supported on lead guitar by Rick Richards from the Georgia Satellites. Now, if I can just concentrate on next weeks Euromillions numbers.
Of course, the Quo comes about because (whisper it) Mr Jennings is an Englishman. But we won’t hold that against him because this set of honky tonk, beer drinking, hell raising and pussy whipping tunes is a real treat.
It makes you wonder why he’s hidden his songwriting chops under a bushel, but assisted here by assorted guests including Charlie Starr from Blackberry Smoke, bassist Jeff Bakos from Jason & The Scorchers and the aforementioned Rick Richards, his songs leap into life. Me like.
Ashley Monroe
The Rocker - The Artist Formerly Known As Zeitgeist. TAFKAZ 
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