Customer Reviews

Not the Tremblin Kind

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I discovered Laura Cantrell in a cab of all places - the local progressive station the driver had on played 'Churches on the Interstate' and I could not get the song out of my head. Unfortunately, I hadn't quite caught her name, but some creative searching on Amazon led me right to her. It has been a long time since I've found a singer or CD as engrossing and exciting as Laura Cantrell, and I certainly hope she finds the wide audience she deserves.

On my first listen to Not the Tremblin' Kind I loved Laura's voice and enjoyed the songs, but I didn't fully appreciate the strengths of the CD until I'd listened to it several times over. Songs that at first sounded similar actually differ significantly in their tone, melody, lyrics and style. From the opening cover of Not the Tremblin' Kind - which she makes totally her own - through a variety of covers and originals, with highlights such as Do You Ever Think of Me and my favorite, Churches on the Interstate, Laura exhibits a wide range of style in a relatively narrow niche. Part country, part folk, part 'singer-songwriter' this is a terrific album and Laura a unique talent.

It's easy to compare her to a lot of different singers - Lucinda Williams, Nanci Griffith, a pinch of Emmylou and so on - but what I like about Laura - and all these women - is that despite whatever characteristics they share, they each have a unique style. For anyone interested in quality music in which lyrics, melody, 'background' music and instruments, presentation and tone are all equally important, this is the CD for you. It's been a long time since I've found a new 'discovery' as exciting and worthwhile as Laura Cantrell - she's not to be missed.

I bought this after listening to her on NPR's Fresh Air. I was impressed with her intelligence and literate take on country music. As well, the snippets of "The Whiskey Makes You Sweeter" and "Queen of the Coast" were quite impressive. Certainly, the album lived up to its preview. As hoped, this is a literate, well-made album of songs that are simultaneously refreshing and age-old. There are both tastefully obscure covers (the aforementioned "Whisky ..." written by Amy Allison, Mose Allison's daughter) and originals. Cantrell's voice is wonderful--fragile and strong at the same time (especially in the title track). The backing band is top flight and the arrangements perfectly suited for the songs. All in all, this is an extremely satisfying album showing off a obscure but talented singer/songwriter.

I've been listening closely to all types of music for 40 years, and at this point there are very few new voices that I find worthy or remarkable. Laura Cantrell is one of those rare performers that I listen to every day. On first listen, the arrangements seem simple and the vocals pleasant but almost flat. On closer examination, you'll hear the restraint, the nuance, and the sheer musicality of this material. Her voice is clear, bright, expressive, and honest. The tunes are first cut, especially the fun pop "Do You Ever Think of Me?" (sounds like the 1965 George Harrison on guitar), the aching beauty of "Two Seconds" and a tune she penned, "Queen of the Coast." Like other reviewers, I love Kitty Wells and Lucinda WIlliams; right now, Laura beats them both. MY eight year old daughter likes Britney Spears and Back Street Boys (both harmless treacle) but I play this in the car and she listens, sings along, and loves it. Intelligent country music.

"Not the Tremblin' Kind" was one of those musical gambles I am grateful I decided to take. Like other reviewers, I'd agree that Cantrell's voice resembles that of Kitty Wells (and maybe a little Nanci Griffith), but musically these songs are the kind that Linda Ronstadt covered in her 1970s masterpieces like "Simple Dreams" - smart country and pop selections that form a cohesive whole album ("Little Bit of You" especially sounds like something Linda would sing). Spare and tight musicianship and production allows for Cantrell's unique song styling to be showcased. As for her own songwriting, Cantrell writes straightforward narrative lyrics and constructs melodies that, like the rest of the album, will have you harmonizing on the choruses after the first listen. This is an important contribution to the alt-country canon. Unlike so many of the male players on the scene, who seem to think that simply augmenting the amount of traditional instrumentation on their albums will lend them an aura of authenticity, Cantrell shows that even Brooklyn-based girls can do country right.

I bought this album on the strength of hearing just one track on BBC radio. To be honest I thought that like so many other albums, the one track that I heard regularly on the Bob Harris show would be THE outstanding one and the rest would be so-so.

WRONG!! Every song is special - from the title track (my favourite) to the last one, and what a voice! Sends a chill down my spine. And the backing musicians are something else as well! I have played this CD more times in one day than any other in my collection. If this lady does not become a major star, then there is no justice in this world.

This album sings itself from the heart of an intersate highway truck stop. Everything about this album (music, lyrics, voice, complexity, thinness) reminds me of a breakfast counter off the highway in Maryland where a chance encounter brought into conversation me, two women, a man with a big rig and a waitress with an unforgiving apron. Three hours and too much coffee later, we had all told our stories--none of them brilliant, none of them hopeless, all of them understandable, all of them human. Then we all went our separate ways, looking for whatever holy, blissful martyr our roads would let us meet. I'd recommend Laura Canterll precisely because she isn't flashy, pushy or phoney. She's just singing the country music I grew up listening to.

'Churches off the Interstate' is like a great undiscovered Tammy/Loretta song you never heard before, but now its your favorite song. 'Two Seconds' is one of the saddest songs you're bound to hear anytime soon. And 'The Way It Is' is a great country song about New York City (yes!)

The comparisons to country greats of the past are fairly apt, even though Kitty Wells is always able to hit the notes and would never I hope release a plodding clunker like 'My Heart Goes Out to You.' Every diamond has its flaw...

And she's a great dj too!

Not with this CD! I loved listening to it all spring as I worked in my yard and has quickly become one of my favorite CDs. Ms. Cantrell sings with such a longing on some of the tracks and great fun on some others! She is pure joy to listen to.

My family finds one of her tunes to be rather comical and have taken great pleasure in teasing me about it... "Pile of Woe" is a lovely tune and I enjoy it!

Ms. Cantrell is definitely NOT Brittney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Faith Hill, or Shania Twain... instead she simply sings the songs she likes and I would put her the same class as Dolly Parton, Emmilou Harris and Linda Ronstandt! She is a breath of fresh air and simple music. Just a girl and her guitar!

I've listened to this album every day since buying it - the reviewer who describes Cantrell's voice as both strong and fragile describes it perfectly, and you really get to hear it, not some slick artificial version of it. If you yearn for country that is a departure from the overproduced sound-alike stuff on the radio, this is it. And while I wish her commercial success, let's hope Nashville keeps its hands off her sound.

You can't quite classify Cantrell's music or vocal style, but both will knock your socks off. I don't remember listening to an album for the first time that blew me away quite like this one. Smart lyrics, catchy but not saccharine tunes and quality musicianship show off Cantrell's clear vocals to highest advantage without the self-consciousness of Nancy Griffith's trills. This is every bit as good as Car Wheels and deserves a broad audience. You need this CD and so do your friends and family.