Sweet acoustic pop, western swing and charming lyrics
author: Isaac Paris
This Austin three piece tours all over the states and keeps churning out hits. I wish they would come to Alaska and share their special recipe for musical thrills with us.
The catchiest track is “Paints A Yates,” “buy a smoke and bottle, get my man and go” is a great hook, and Jenny Parrot’s cheerful, friendly voice is warm and appealing. She makes you want to jump in a car with her and speed off, commitments be damned! Or should it be a horse drawn carriage?
Shotgun Party’s short pleasant pop sensibility nods to great songwriters like Patsy Cline and Sam Cooke. Stanly Smith’s clarinet on “Run n Hide” adds an impeccable class and Jenny’s delivery is confident, she is unafraid to break a note over her knee. “Y Yo” has a different feel than the others, a wistful, mournful delivery and staccato bursts of energy. Confident stand-up bass from Chris Crepps keeps energy high and the songs moving forward. “The Builder” is another stand out track, full of hooks and pleasant choir “aaahs.” “Canned Peaches” is smokin’ hot, with a few lyrics that make you ask, “did she really say that?” “now I’m making syrup on their thighs.” I’m not sure what that means, but it makes me feel a little dirty.
“Star Song” is also filled with joyful hooks, the energy of a Texas honky tonk meets the optimism of a children’s song. “I was a star, and I will be a star again.” You’ll be singing it to yourself, mark my words.
Katy Rose Cox’s violin is absolutely screaming! “Moonlight” is a familiar cover, but with the frenetic fiddle it sounds like a new song. There is a fun and unpredictable fiddle solo on every one of these songs. She plays faster than a hummingbird flaps its wings on “Draggin the Bow.” “Tanya” has some tango-like passion, and we are fortunate they decided there was room for these violin-focus tracks on the album.
The combination of Jenny’s personality, her pop sensibility and the dynamics of Katy Rose’s fiddle make this a top notch record: an improvement over their last, and a must for fans of original country and western swing. The 17 songs never seem like too many, you just want the album to go on and on.
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