Album Notes

Press Reviews \"4 & 1/2 stars...a wide and inviting spectrum of music...a first class album\" -Maverick Magazine \"Widow Maker fall somewhere between the Nashville Bluegrass Band and the Bad Livers. A Canadian five piece, Widow Maker have in Julie Kerr and Will White two excellent lead vocalists. White is also featured on banjo (Just One More Drink) and slide guitar (Water’s Rising), the latter also boasting slap bass, guitjo (guitar/banjo), fiddle and first class harmony vocals to aid the hugely impressive Kerr as energy and quality burst from the seams of the song. Their music is a mix of old-timey, bluegrass, gospel and country with a hint or two of blues, and old-school country, delicious and yes, something that isn’t listed as a genre -- good old-fashioned honest endeavour and, a genuine love for the music. The title song, The Awful Truth, boasts a Gram Parsons pained feel via White’s broken edged vocals, coupled with the harmonies of Kerr -- it takes little imagination to hear Parsons and Harris singing the song. Likewise One More Cup Of Coffee, with its breakneck banjo licks and choppy mandolin coupled with fine vocal harmonies has a 1970s feel. This time it is in comparison to the music and vocals of Mary Kay Place (see an excellent compilation release of the singer-actress’ work released on Raven), such is the bounce and intonations of the omnipresent Kerr. The real strength of Widow Maker lies in the effortless fashion the music slots together, and the manner they deftly change tempo and intonation in material. A wide and inviting spectrum of music is covered, all from the band, with White being the main source. For hard-driving bluegrass inspired fare, I Fear My Brothers Have Forsaken Me boasting some smart guitar picking (Craig Korth), the banjo/fiddle plied Get Up There Mule and the have no fear She Should Know stand out on their own. Followed closely in the noteworthy stakes by the classic old country ode Please Don’t Say That You Love Me Again, and with a touch of rockabilly, You’ve Mistaken Me. With lots of echo, it might have been recorded in the hall of the Korth-Kerr home, since the whole album was made in their living room. Deal Breaker Baby has more than a little I’ll Go Stepping Too to it, and with some smart upright bass, banjo, fiddle and more commendable vocals from White/Kerr the listener has few, if any cause for concern on what is a first-class album.\" \"Close country harmonies, tight bluegrass musicianship and actual cleverly written songs!\" -KWUR 90.3 FM Blog: The Official Blog of St. Louis Underground Radio... \"WIDOW MAKER - THE AWFUL TRUTH: I wish we got sent more CD\'s like this one - contemporary songwriting consistent with traditional music, but not too concerned with aping it or \"reviving\" it. These folks mostly play some particularly tuneful (not just precise and austere) bluegrass, with some bluesy numbers and slower, more trad. country-oriented stuff. Close country harmonies, tight bluegrass musicianship and actual cleverly written songs! RECOMMENDED: most are bluegrassy (1*, 7***, 12*), 2*** is bluesier (so is 5), 3 & 6 & 10 are more country, 13 - weird rockabilly with delay vox\" \"I know why y\'all are the Widow Maker, because you knock \'em dead.\" -Uncle Billy Dunbar, Country Unplugged Bluegrass Radio, WWB - worldwidebluegrass.com \"The Awful Truth is that this album is Awful Good! From the cover to the production and mixing the product is as good as any I have heard from bands here in the States. Will White is an awesome song writer as well as the others on the album. I like the mixture of songs from traditional to contemporary with a little swing. And gospel too. I know why y\'all are the Widow Maker, because you knock \'em dead. Great job, keep it up!\" \"Very original stylings and intriguing work! You folks are on it!\" -Jeff DeFord, WWB - worldwidebluegrass.com \"Y\'all just hot!\" -Gracie Muldoon, WWB - worldwidebluegrass.com \"Sharp