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It never ceases to amaze me how much great talent there is in Austin that continues to fly under the radar screen. In this case it's a girl named Toni who can belt it out with the best of em. This is Toni Price's second album, after her equally good debut "Swim Away". If you're expecting this to be a country/folk album, well....your half right. The other half is well done Texas blues mixed with a little rock and roll. She is equally adept at both styles, which makes her a notch above most other women vocalists. And in the same league as somebody like Bonnie Raitt. She's that good, and she's got a band of some of Austin's finest musicians to back her up. The guitars of longtime Austin veterans Derek O'Brien and David Grissom from Joe Ely's band really give this cd a lot of bite. Price admits she's not a songwriter, but fortunatly she has an excellent songwriter, Gwil Owen, to handle those duties. When she's not cuttin' her teeth on Owen's material, she's doing some well chosen covers of songs like Bob Dylan's "Obviously 5 Believers" (a great rocked up version). An excellent blues song with Harry Carter's "I Don't Want You". And her voice is just tailor made for Butch Hancock's country jewel "Bluebird". The catchiest song on here is the folk/country diddy "Something". This one I guarantee will have you hittin' the repeat button. The album closes with "Too Much Coffee". An ultra fast country rocker that sounds like it's being played by a band that has just a little bit too much caffeine in the bloodstream. Price has trafficked in many styles of music here. And for me it all works well. You might call this Texas roots music. I just call it.... grrrreat!

Like Emmylo Harris, Toni Price is a voice that charms every time one hears it. And, like Emmylou, Toni is trulyn gifted in selecting songs and surrounding herself withe the best musicians. I have literally listened to this album over 100 times since getting it the day it came out. "Tumbleweed" and "Misty Moonlight" alone will make you a fan for life. Toni's the best.

Despite the cover that looks like an advertisement for a deodorant, this is a very good CD. There are not the blockbuster tracks like on "Midnight Pumpkin," but this is a very good set. "Dean & Brandy" is driving outlaw rock, "Two young kids gotta pay for what they did." Acoustic guitars blend beautifully on "Something," "I got a heart, but it just ain't pumping; I gotta fill it up with something good." The title track is full of twangy guitars, "I may be guilty of trying too hard; I didn't know it wasn't right." "Edge of the Night" is my favorite track on the CD, a rocker. "Misty Moonlight" is heart-of-Dixie country with fiddles and guitar pickin'. "Too Close to You" is a great rocker with a searing electric lead guitar. Toni sounds like she's doing a cover of Elvis' "Heartbreak Hotel" on "I Don't Want You." "It's 2 a.m. & this bar is closed; How did I get here? Heaven only knows," Toni sings on "Boozy Blues." Fiddles give a bluegrass feel on the pensive folk tune "Tumbleweed." Ms. Price does a pretty rendition of Butch Hancock's "Bluebird." Toni goes through the subterranean paces on Dylan's "Obviously 5 Believers," a song not often covered. The CD concludes with a hoedown that'll put a smile on your face, "Too Much Coffee." Toni's work here is sure and certain. Her band is top notch. Enjoy!

Toni's voice has a bluesy quality and that great Austin sound. Looking forward to hearing more from this artist and would like to see her tour outside the Texas area. She should come to Chicago!

After I heard Toni Price on NPR a bit over a year ago, I immediately bought all of her CD's and have not been the least bit disappointed. Her voice is truly a gift and her band strikes all the right notes. This is just great music! Her albums are all good, no, make that great. I just wish I didn't have to go to Austin to see her, though it ain't a bad place to be...