Customer Reviews

Heartbreaker's Hall of Fame

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Playing Time - 39:27 -- Based in Austin, the vivacious Sunny Sweeney sings smart, tuneful songs on this auspicious debut. Her infectious spunk is perfect for the sturdy alt-country and Americana offerings. She has assembled a formidable band, but I noted that vocal harmonies were a tad understated. Sunny's Texas drawl conveys some rather alluring sensuality or honky tonky kick-up-yer-heels fun on both originals and covers. Sweeney's originals include "Ten Years Pass," "Slow Swinging Western Tunes," and "Heartbreaker's Hall of Fame." While she's written many songs, these are her best and the ones she was most comfortable and enthusiastic about presenting to us. They've got some memorable melodies and lyrical sentiments. Writing from personal experience to be honest and convincing seem to drive her songwriting. Jim Lauderdale co-wrote two numbers, "Refresh My Memory" and "Please Be San Antone." Jim also makes a cameo appearance in a duet with Sunny on Keith Sykes' "Lavender Blue." Her optimism and exuberance are exciting. I serious doubt that she'll be the "Next Big Nothing" as she facetiously suggests.

I love to hear singers express emotions about their own regions or homes. Covering another Texas singer's hit, Sunny gives a mighty fine Lone Star treatment to Libbi Bosworth's "East Texas Pines." Sunny was raised in the piney woods of east Texas near Longview, got a degree in public relations at S.W. Texas State Univ., tried her hand at improv theater/comedy, and then decided to form a country band. Produced by Tom Lewis and Tommy Detamore, the album was also designed with an objective of portraying her ebullient personality and capturing the kind of live show she presents. While some more variety in arrangement might've been nice, all of the songs on "Heartbreaker's Hall of Fame" include full ensembles of proficient session players who know their way around their guitars, bass, drums, pedal steel and fiddle. Some occasional harmonica, mandolin, banjo, or Dobro embellish a few pieces with some understated acoustic tints. I could've used more of Ted Roddy's harp and bobby Flores' fiddle and mandolin. In some secluded woods near San Antonio, one goal of the Cherry Ridge Studio in Floresville, Tx. was to facilitate Sunny tapping into the emotional strength and feeling of her repertoire. Special recognition is worth of Lars Albrecht's taste and technique on his Telecaster guitar.

Her debut album has carefully cultivated tunes with some new, fresh outlooks that country music needs so badly. I reckon that's what I really enjoyed about this set. Nothing stale here ..... even when covering Iris DeMent's ballad "Mama's Opry" or Tim Carroll's plain-and-simple raucous tongue-twistin' "If I Could" (also recorded by John Prine) that admits we all have disappointment but to get past them. "Now if I could, then I would, make money doin' something that I love, I'd thank my lucky stars above, If I could just get by, lovin' you dear, Then I would just get by, makin' love to you."

Tom Schuyler's moving "16th Avenue" (a version of which Lacy J. Dalton recorded about 1982) is a sweet nostalgic way to conclude the set. Just like the "boys who make the noise," Sunny's got that same million dollar spirit. She takes the lyrics seriously. Golden words roll off her tongue, and she's seeing her dream come true. She's walked away from everything just to sing for me and you.

This Texas dreamcatcher doesn't want to just be a bystander. She wants to front one of the best country bands in Texas. The honky-tonkin' songbird's vocals can soar like a hawk or swoop like a swallow. With both elegance and country charm, she wraps her lyrics around some stellar accompaniment. For some down-home Texas country heart and soul, Sunny Sweeney's lone star brand of music is definitely worth a listen. (Joe Ross, Roseburg, OR.)

Sunny Sweeney's debut album, Heartbreaker's Hall of Fame is compelling and catching. It feels more like a live honky-tonk performance in part because it has the pared down sound of a great bar band and not the over produced sound of too many studio albums. Sunny is a singer song-writer. The album offers a mix of her work and that of other song-writers.

What first caught my ear was the song, "If I Could." It's an infectious anthem for the average worker with an auctioneer's tempo for the catchy chorus. I found this song through Yahoo's Music Videos Country Music channel. Yahoo generates a play list, including new offerings based upon your past selections and ratings. It works. I loved this song and bought the album. A lot of catchy songs don't move me to buy. Sunny got my money.

Another special treat is a cover of, "16th Avenue," a song made famous by Lacey J. Dalton. The cover nicely matches the rest of the album in voice and tone and is not an exact copy of Dalton's version. Sunny Sweeney makes it hers.

The album is solid and engaging. It is real Country Music and Texas genuine. I'll be watching for more from Sunny Sweeney. She reputedly has a great following around her home base in Austin, Texas. I think her fan base is set to grow.

I've seen her live in Austin a couple times now and it's always a great show. If you like her voice, check out Kasey Chambers. Sunny will actually do Kasey covers if you ask her. The first time I heard Sunny, I was at a bar meeting old friends, but ended up staying longer b/c I heard her singing. Great CD and definitely worth purchasing.

This is one of my favourite CDs of 2006. Sunny Sweeney has made a really impressive debut album, collecting together 12 great songs, mostly uptempo and honky tonk (9 covers and 3 originals). Her voice reminds me of Dixie Chicks' Natalie Maines, like the previous reviewer, but unlike him I have no reserves about her singing, which I find fresh, energetic and twangy, the right combination for this kind of music.

Sweeney's main musical influences are Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Townes Van Zandt, Loretta Lynn, Jim Lauderdale, Dwight Yoakam and Iris DeMent and you can hear every bit of them in the album. Actually, this album can be seen as Sweeney's homage to her favourite artists. Some of them are explicitly present: two covers are taken from Lauderdale's catalogue (they are "Refresh My Memory" and "Please Be San Antone") and one from Iris DeMent's songbook ("Mama's Opry"). Lauderdale also nicely duets with Sweeney in "Lavender Blue". Sidebar: in the original the duet was between Keith Sykes and Iris DeMent: could it be another (indirect) way to pay tribute to one of her favourite singers?

The other covers are equally good, even though I hadn't heard of their authors before. Particularly enjoyable are "East Texas Pines" by Libbi Bosworth and "If I could" by Tim Carroll: their quick-paced rhythm should make them favorites at live shows. I also like the ironic and self-deprecating "Next Big Nothing" by Audrey Auld ("I'm gonna be the next big nothing, you won't see my name on MTV").

In my opinion, the originals are one step below the other songs and Sunny seems aware of that, when she says "I've heard it said before that good cover songs are better than bad originals". Nevertheless, they are worth listening to, from the country-rock of "Ten Years Pass" to the traditional "Slow Swinging Western Tunes" to the ironic honky tonk of "Hearbreaker's Hall Of Fame".

All songs feature heavy doses of pedal steel and fiddle and the occasional harmonica, but it's the band as a whole that does an excellent work. Actually, my only regret is that I can't listen to them live. That should be fantastic, and even more so, if Sunny assures us that "on my CD, I just wanted to have great songs and a cool sound. My main thing was that I didn't want it to be something I couldn't replicate at a live show. [..]. I think we can and do sound like our CD."

My suggestion: if you live in Texas, go see her live and then, if you like the show, buy the CD.
My prediction: her next album will be on a major label, since I'm sure more and more people will get aware of her music.

Squeaky-voiced Sunny Sweeney is the latest in a long line of independent, off-the-radar Texas country singers who will knock your socks off with heartfelt melodies and pedal-steel & fiddle-drenched twang. Songwriter Jim Lauderdale sings with her on one song, and fiddler Bobby Flores helps anchor the sound throughout. If you like good, old, traditional twang, check this disc out!

If you like Americana and some twang in your music you will not be disappointed in this album. I have not been able to stop listening to it for weeks now. Not one let down on the album. Although there are some covers they have all been nicely tattooed with her own unique style. One of the best first albums I have heard in years.

I'd rather have someone waterboard me than be forced to listen to Tim McGraw groan his way through a redundantly syrupy American Idol-esque ballad. I grit my teeth to the excruciating Jamaican-themed cruise ship tripe cranked out from the alleged heterosexual Kenny Chesney via the Nashville assembly line. Big and Rich remind me of the Village People minus the indian and the army guy.

If you feel the same way- that today's "country" is NO WHERE NEAR the mark- then give this gal a listen! If you remember Dolly Parton, Kitty Wells, Donna Fargo, and Dottie West you'll love Sunny. Her music is new yet does a wonderful job at showcasing the legacy of roots country. If you've never heard of these ladies then you likely need to hear Sunny's music more than anyone!

True enough, there's something brewing in Texas akin to the outlaw movement fostered by Willie and Waylon in the 70's. Though Nashville continues to ignore it, artists like Sunny, Jamie Richards, Randy Rogers, and a host of others are getting plenty of attention through live shows, the internet, and word of mouth.

Why? The music: IT'S GENUINE. No Nashville glitz, lip synching, or pop sounding neo-country whatever-you-call-it crap. Just fiddle, steel, a few beers and a whole lot of talent. Imagine that!

Every once in awhile, a true country performer comes along and my faith in country music is renewed, if only for a moment or two. Here's one of those performers, Sunny Sweeney. This, THIS is what country radio should be playing and Nashville record companies should be begging for. Maybe, someday that will happen. Meanwhile, here's Sunny with a butt-kicking debut album. My favorite song? All of 'em, but especially "If I Could". Buy this CD, play it often and loud, and thank the stars that performers like Sunny Sweeney, Heather Myles, Kasy Chambers and Amber Digby (to name a few) are out there making true country music.

Fantastic! I heard Ms Sweeney on a satellite radio station and was immediately hooked. She has such a sweet honesty in her voice, and her songs tickle that ol' thinkin' bone stuck up in the brain. I was most pleased with this cd and look forward to much, MUCH more from Sunny Sweeney. My family members will be getting this cd in their Christmas stockings!

This is one of my favourite albums of 2006 (and 2007, now that it has been reissued). Sunny Sweeney has made a really impressive debut, collecting together 12 great songs, mostly uptempo and honky tonk (9 covers and 3 originals). Her voice reminds me of Dixie Chicks' Natalie Maines, like the previous reviewer, but unlike him I have no reserves about her singing, which I find fresh, energetic and twangy, the right combination for this kind of music.

Sweeney's main musical influences are Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Townes Van Zandt, Loretta Lynn, Jim Lauderdale, Dwight Yoakam and Iris DeMent and you can hear every bit of them in the album. Actually, this album can be seen as Sweeney's homage to her favourite artists. Some of them are explicitly present: two covers are taken from Lauderdale's catalogue (they are "Refresh My Memory" and "Please Be San Antone") and one from Iris DeMent's songbook ("Mama's Opry"). Lauderdale also nicely duets with Sweeney in "Lavender Blue". Sidebar: in the original the duet was between Keith Sykes and Iris DeMent: could it be another (indirect) way to pay tribute to one of her favourite singers?

The other covers are equally good, even though I hadn't heard of their authors before. Particularly enjoyable are "East Texas Pines" by Libbi Bosworth and "If I could" by Tim Carroll: their quick-paced rhythm should make them favorites at live shows. I also like the ironic and self-deprecating "Next Big Nothing" by Audrey Auld ("I'm gonna be the next big nothing, you won't see my name on MTV").

In my opinion, the originals are one step below the other songs and Sunny seems aware of that, when she says "I've heard it said before that good cover songs are better than bad originals". Nevertheless, they are worth listening to, from the country-rock of "Ten Years Pass" to the traditional "Slow Swinging Western Tunes" to the ironic honky tonk of "Hearbreaker's Hall Of Fame".

All songs feature heavy doses of pedal steel and fiddle and the occasional harmonica, but it's the band as a whole that does an excellent work. Actually, my only regret is that I can't listen to them live. That should be fantastic, and even more so, if Sunny assures us that "on my CD, I just wanted to have great songs and a cool sound. My main thing was that I didn't want it to be something I couldn't replicate at a live show. [..]. I think we can and do sound like our CD."

My suggestion: if you live in Texas, go see her live and then, if you like the show, buy the CD.
My prediction: her next album will be on a major label, since I'm sure more and more people will get aware of her music.