do you know what's pretty fuckin' great?
The Pistol Annies are pretty fuckin' great! This defies all common sense, because the Pistol Annies is the name of a supergroupy kinda project undertaken by a N***ville megastar, Miranda Lambert, and involves N***ville players and producers doing the kind of trailer-trashy swagger and pottymouth cornpone that is the trademark of O**tl*w C**n*ry and B*******t Records....I mean, it's like the deacon farting in his own church, and using his own organist to accompany. The songwriting plays as too tossed-off -- and is actually bad in spots -- but the performances are so good that it doesn't make too much difference, once again illustrating the old saw that it's the singer not the song. If for instance you love hearing George Jones and Melba Montgomery singing "Looking Back To See," or Shania Twain's "No One Needs To Know," then you probably know how to put your inner Allan Bloom on hold while a good groove is going on, and this stuff will make your heart soar.
I don't know who's playing the guitar (having bought the digital files to punch up some solo driving I had to do this week), but I know it's not Buddy Miller, and I know whoever it is loves what Buddy does. It's like Hank Garland to Wes Montgomery -- the second-hand, respectful quality of it proves endearing rather than disabling. Meanwhile, the rhythm section guys should be calling their moms and bragging about how they played here, it's so good. And the producer, whoever he is, is fantastic at organizing rhythmic bits and pieces, devising subtle quirks to distinguish basslines, and directing soloists away from anything remotely like a star turn. Hell on Heels (what the album's called) is put together with meticulous care. But because of that lack of polish in the lyrics, and because of a scattering of outrageous little touches (popping up mostly as songs come to a close), the care isn't in the least obtrusive. Needless to say, the singing, which is female trio, is flawless; but more needful to say, it's spirited -- like this soul feast of a record, which you should buy. (Do I have the People magazine gig now?)
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5 comments
When a deacon farts in his own church, he has to sit in his own pew.
Guitarists on that one, Robbie, are Randy Scruggs and Richard Bennett, so you make the call! Those are two guys who've probably influenced Buddy along the way..
full credits:
Pistol Annies Primary Artist, Vocals, Background Vocals
Richard Bennett Guitar
Matt Chamberlain Drums
Jay Joyce Guitar
Stuart Mathis Guitar
Russ Pahl Steel Guitar
Randy Scruggs Guitar
Glenn Worf Bass
Fred Eltringham Drums
Mike Wrucke Guitar
Michael Webb Keyboards
Miranda Lambert Group Member
Ashley Monroe Group Member
Josh Grange Guitar
Angaleena Presley Group Member
Technical Credits
Richard Dodd Mastering
Glenn Worf Producer
Chuck Ainlay Producer, Engineer, Digital Editing
Tracy Baskette-Fleaner Art Direction
Mike Wrucke Producer, Engineer, Digital Editing
Frank Liddell Producer
Blake Shelton Composer
Tammie Harris Cleek Imaging, Photo Production
Miranda Lambert Composer
Ashley Monroe Composer
Judy Forde-Blair Liner Notes, Creative Producer
Angaleena Presley Composer
I have to agree with Robbie, the Pistol Annies really put out a good album. I hope we hear more from them in the future. It's nice to see Nashville do something right once in a while.
Thanks Robbie. I hadn't heard of it before your post
and I'm really enjoying it. They get a little too
glossy on track 4 and it sounds like the
chipmunks but the rest is pretty fuckin great!
Great tone and restraint from the band and
the lady's can flat out sing. Nice to actually
LIKE a new(ish) country record.