Exene Cervenka’s musical career is a spectrum bending profile. As the female vocalist of the seminal Punk band X, she laid the foundation on which many female Alt-Country / Americana artists have built their careers. Neko Case and The Be Good Tanyas are perfect examples of artists that have Exene in their family tree. X was often called a Country-Punk band, but really they were the forbearers of what would later be called Alt-Country. Along with Rank and File, Jason and The Scorchers and The Blasters, they created a sound that would later be credited to Uncle Tupelo. (This is not to downplay the influence or genius of Uncle Tupelo. However, history should not be ignored.)
When Exene sang with X, she had a more Gothic style of singing. In her work with The Knitters, the more country sound allows her to display a broader vocal range. With the release of The Excitement of Maybe, Excene sings with an elegant style, while still being true to her roots. The album opens with “Already in Loveâ€, a simple straight forward song that proves her voice is going to be the center of this project. Certain songs like “Falling†are Country songs in which she mixes a Gothic twang with a harmonic beauty. The more upbeat tunes have captivating melodies. With both sadness and hope, The Excitement of Maybe gives us a fresh view of a familiar voice. Let’s welcome her back, it has been too long
About the author: Chip and his family live in Birmingham, AL. Roll Tide!