She Ain't Me

Carrie Rodriguez | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 5, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Manhattan Records
• ASIN: B001ASII7S
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #105,159 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Carrie's sophomore release, She Ain't Me, still showcases her intimate croon, but this classically trained singer/songwriter has just begun flexing her artistic muscles. She Ain't Me is an expectation-confounding statement from Carrie, who notes, "Because I took some chances, wrote with some new people and actually co-wrote most of the songs on the album, it's very different." For She Ain't Me, the Austin-born, Berklee-trained violinist-turned-fiddler teamed with producer Malcolm Burn (Emmylou Harris, Patti Smith, Kaki King) and wrote with Gary Louris of the Jayhawks, as well as Mary Gauthier, Dan Wilson, and Jim Boquist. The album also features a guest vocal appearance by Lucinda Williams.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rodriguez delivers, August 7, 2008

By 

klavierspiel "klavierspiel" (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: She Ain't Me (Audio CD)

In her second solo album Carrie Rodriguez leaves her fruitful partnership with songwriter Chip Taylor further behind. Most of the songs are at least partly hers: she collaborates with a group of talented co-writers and is backed up by a really great band, led by guitarist Hans Holzen, that forms a perfect foil for her distinctively smoky voice. The total sound, overseen by veteran producer Malcolm Burn, covers both pop and country territory but is all of a piece, avoiding the slightly overproduced feel of her first solo outing, "Seven Angels on a Bicycle."

Whether laying down the political gauntlet in "Infinite Night" and "Mask of Moses," or mulling over love's sorrows in "Rag Doll" and "Can't Cry Enough," or getting down with some gritty fiddle playing in "Absence" (too bad there isn't more on this album) Rodriguez delivers unforced, sincere emotion, even when her different vocal registers aren't perfectly in sync (high notes tend to be little more than whispers). The title track is a knowing, sassy take on the old "cheating song" theme that could well be delivered by the likes of Dolly Parton. It has an agreeable way of getting stuck in one's head that suggests it could get lots of airplay. I've listened to all of this artist's albums from the beginning and eagerly look forward to more.

17 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars making a sow's ear of a silk purse, August 16, 2008

By 

GWS (Charlotte, NC USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: She Ain't Me (Audio CD)

In fairness I've only listened through a couple of times but I'm sorely disappointed in the effort. Carrie Rodriguez is a remarkable talent who has thrived in her partnership with Chip Taylor. What worked so well for and between them was at least in part his ear for a good tune and his world-weariness that cast the perfect backdrop for her to shine. She was always able to present herself as a quite plausible peer among an ever-so-slightly rough crowd of seasoned rowdies. The feeling that everything was sort of thrown together on the spot out of pure raw talent and experience worked well to showcase her multiple talents.

This album, on the other hand, is pure marketing. From the dolled-up photos to the way-overproduced feel, this is all wrong. (Interestingly, Gracenote has it classified as "Pop.") It really sounds to me like some kind of mutant packaging project where the idea was to try to force her into clones of songs by one each of a dozen recognizable and highly marketable girl singers. It doesn't work.

I don't mean to say she is nothing without Chip Taylor. Far from it. She is exceptionally talented. But I do mean that Chip Taylor has clearly played a crucial role in clearing the space to let her work shine. If she's going to flourish without him she's going to have to find enough spine to follow her art and ditch the marketing team that is serving her so poorly. Unless, of course, I've got it wrong and the gig with Chip Taylor was just to pay the bills and she was merely the best actress ever pretending to be into all that while she waited for her big chance to step out and make some pap under her own name.

Look, she's a terrific musician who can also turn a phrase with that delicious twang of hers. Casting her as the girl singer on a pop record is a tremendous waste. If you want to see what makes Carrie Rodriguez special look up the YouTube video of her playing off Chip Taylor on a live rendition of Wild Thing. She turns just the right phrase with just the right inflection and then she tears into that fiddle. Please, spare me the airbrush.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Rising Star - Long Overdue, October 26, 2008

By 

Dr. Don Olsen (Denver, PA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: She Ain't Me (MP3 Download)

Heard/saw this fine singer for the first time last night on Austin City Limits - I stopped watching The World Series game three to experience her!! Now I can't get enough of her!!!
Bought tickets to see her at the Arden, Delaware Gild Hall on Dec. 6 (2008). I can't believe the tickets were only $19.00 each!!
I haven't been this excited about an artist since Alison Krauss - and Carrie writes much of her material, too. This album showcases both her writing and vocal talents! I highly recommend it!