Customer Reviews

Zoe Muth and The Lost High Rollers

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
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It's simply not true that they don't make country music like they used to. Zoe Muth and the Lost High Rollers are Exhibit 1 in support. This CD sounds like it issued from some alternate universe populated still by Hank Williams, Kitty Wells, Jim Reeves, Patsy Cline, Faron Young, Skeeter Davis, and Buck Owens. The lyrics and arrangements are both filled with incredible hooks. Halfway through first listening to "Middle of Nowhere," I found myself singing along to the chorus: "In the middle of nowhere at my own home address." The first song, "You Only Believe Me When I'm Lying," has one of those great, witty twists that country musicians do best of all. (Think of "From now on all my friends are gonna be strangers . . .") The closing song, "Never Be Fooled Again," is truly heartbreaking: a full, sad story in a few minutes.

Despite her youth, Ms. Muth has a voice that sounds like she's seen far too many miles of dusty roads and far too many dingy rooms. It's a plaintive but comfortable voice--and, above all, an intelligent voice that fits the lyrics. The band is brilliant. Dave Harmonson (electric guitar and pedal steel) plays lines that wrap around the lyrics, supporting them emotionally. The mandolinist, Ethan Lawton, plays understated licks that are steeped in the classics. And the rhythm section keeps everything moving along in fine, tight fashion.

The second CD, "Starlight Hotel," matches the high achievement of this one. Buy it too!

I heard of this album through a friend. I had told her about the Steep Canyon Rangers and Cherryholmes and by following the "If you like these artists, you may like these...." The music is raw, simple, pure, beautiful. The lyrics are amazing and when it isn't just Zoe singing (and her voice is very similar to a young Emmylou Harris-gorgeous!) the Lost High Rollers are very tight and the chemistry of the entire ensemble is wonderful. I cannot recommend this album enough! One of the best finds of 2009.

I can't recall the last time I was so wowed by a new artist. In fact, it's been two years since I last wrote a review on Amazon, so it's been that long since I was wowed by anything, period. Zoe Muth has it all - great tunes, great lyrics and a genuinely soulful voice. The most amazing thing about this album is why songs like "Hey Little Darlin," "Not You" and "Hard Luck Love" aren't in heavy rotation on country music stations everywhere. And they aren't even the best songs on this CD - the impossibly sad "Never Be Fooled Again" is the one I've listened to the most. For the most part, the music doesn't break new ground, but I wouldn't have it any other way - the songs are the perfect vehicles for Zoe's wonderful voice and lyrics. Good luck not playing this one over and over; I tried not listening to it yesterday but couldn't get the songs out of my head. It's that good, people. Buy two copies and give one to a friend. I plan to.

I am so glad I heard about this album. If you are a fan of real country music, this CD will come out and grab you. Zoe has a captivating voice that kind of reminds me of a countryish Stevie Nicks. Her voice, the great lyrics, and amazing band (especially the pedal steel player) combine for a classic album. Fans of Emmylou, Iris Dement, Eilen Jewell, and Tift Merritt will really dig this album. What a keeper! Talent like this deserves to be heard.

Zoe was in the KPIG studio a couple of weeks

ago and just blew us all away. The group

was opening at Crepe Place that night, but

the radio show that day knocked me over. This

is the next Nanci Griffin and maybe even

better. - JoeG Santa Cruz

Who would have thought such a perfectly twangy sound and timeless country lyrics could come from the land of ferry boats and salmon. Zoe is a terrific singer/songwriter and she's got a great band to back her up.

This is the greatest country album that I have heard in years. It contains the best set of songs by a female country artist since Emmy Lou was in her prime. In fact Zoe Muth on this offering is better than Emmy Lou back in the day. Can't recommend this one enough, I have played it so much that if it was vinyl it would be worn through... Buy it if you love pure clean and soulful country...It doesn't get any better than this!

Only 2 reviews for this album since 2009? How is it that the purest gems go so often unheard? I was just asking my wife in a rhetorical manner, where do these people find all this great obscure music, I find it on internet radio but where do the DJs on there get it? A half hour later I happened to hear Never Be Fooled Again on Fat Music Radio on my Logitech Squeezebox Internet Radio. What a fantastic soulful song and sound, the best thing I've heard in quite a while, I ran upstairs to download it. One of the Joys of internet radio is it often displays the artist and title and you will find gems like this. You want to get one asap or you are missing out on all the best artists which you will certainly never hear on mainstream radio.

Zoe, I don't now much about you yet but you are just unreal in your deeply rooted songwriting as well as performing. You made my day and I am sure to enjoy your music for the rest of this lifetime. And the band is every bit as terrific. I hope to see you in some obscure venue soon, I'll be looking out, thanks!

I bought this one after picking up Starlight Hotel. That one grabs you from the get-go and doesn't let go. This one comes around on your blind side, working its way in until you realize what a finely crafted album it is.