So, let's just list all of the different ways that this could have gone very, very wrong. The obvious point is that critics frequently find their way into that career because they can't actually create art. Even then, most music critics have tastes that are, let's just say, orthogonal to my own. When it comes to country, most critics divide the genre between music they are supposed to hate, and The Man In Black, with that carve-out only because they are told they are supposed to worship him. So when a critic decides to record a country album, the risks are high for ironic banjos, affected nasal singing, a pointless Johnny Cash cover or two, and an attitude of condescension masquerading as respect. Instead, Kandia Crazy Horse has talent and vision. This is good. Really good.

Kandia understands the roots of country and truly loves them, but the world doesn't need an album of mindless traditionalism, and she knows that too. Instead, she has absorbed a wide variety of influences, allowing her to seamlessly blend her beloved country with not just the obvious Laurel Canyon stuff, but with R&B, soul, gospel and modern folk. There is no phony twang in her elegant voice, no irony in the banjo and pedal steel, and no attitude. She is just taking all of the influences she loves, sticking them in a blender, and serving up the result. Good stuff. The only real comparison I can make is to J. The Savage, who blends Bakersfield and Honky Tonk with New Orleans R&B. However, J.'s music can come across as so tongue-in-cheek that it can be hard to tell how seriously he takes it, as much fun as it can be. There is none of that here. Kandia is 100% serious, and 100% committed to a unique musical identity. Here's hoping she takes this as far as she can and never goes back to music criticism. After all, there is no lower form of life than a music critic. You know, those people who spend all of their time listening to others' music, writing about it and wishing they had the talent to do something else. How pathetic are those people? And more importantly, if I'm not being paid to write these reviews, I'm not a music critic, right? Right? Uh... What was I saying? Oh yeah, Kandia Crazy Horse has recorded a pretty darned cool debut album. I was a skeptic, and she won me over.

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Breathtaking debut!

Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2014

Not much more you can ask for in an album. Kandia Crazy Horse is a compelling vocalist and brilliant songwriter. My favorite song is Congo Square. #keeprocking

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