You ever wonder what modern country music should sound like? I give you exhibit A, Cary Ann Hearst. She has a voice big enough to stand toe to toe with any of the great female country vocalist, Loretta Lynne, Patsy Cline, or Dolly Parton. But, she also, unashamedly, rocks. Her new record crystallizes what may one day be refered to as the Cary Ann Hearst sound. Entitled Lions and Lambs, the record synthesizes classic country, road house honky tonk, rock n roll, and 50’s pop into a 10 song collection that’s both riveting and fun. Produced by long time fan Butch Walker (former Marvelous 3 frontman and in demand producer), the record has some of the stacked vocals and lush production that Walker seems to love, but also has plenty of stark acoustic guitars and weeping pedal steel that characterizes Hearst’s earlier work.
When I reviewed her last release, the Thread EP, Cary Ann Hearst was still a mostly South Carolina based phenomenon. Everybody in the Palmetto state who paid attention to the local music knew and dare I say- loved- the hollerin’, boot stompin’, 5 ft. 2 in. undisputed queen of the Charleston music scene. Now Hearst seems poised to have the same effect on the rest of America. A tour with Butch Walker under her belt and a tour with Hayes Carll and Jason Isbell underway (both with husband Michael Trent under the duo name Shovels & Rope), Hearst seems to be charming audiences nationwide. Lions and Lambs has already been covered in glowing terms by NPR. The howling “Hells Bells” was featured on the second season of the HBO series True Blood. Hearst also matches wits with Hayes Carll on his new record, dueting on the John Prine-esque “Another Like You”. So given her talent level, can world domination be far off?
For information on Shovels and Rope (a live experience like no other) go here.
About the author: Specializes in Dead, Drunk, and Nakedness..... Former College Radio DJ and Current Craft Beer Nerd