If you read Twangville or any of the other excellent roots rock blogs being written across the internet, then I think you can agree with this statement “alternative country gets a bad rap.†Alt. Country, or as I prefer y’allternative, reached a brief level of prominence during the mid 1990’s, but even then it had its detractors. The arguments by the detractors usually criticized both the artists (for being inauthentic) and the audience (for being white upper-middle class and not ‘rednecks’). While I didn’t really live through the so called ‘good ole days’ of alt. country’s 10 seconds of almost popularity, I have had problems with my own self actualization as a quote unquote country fan. I struggled. I can (and occasionally still do) tote my South Carolina roots as my trump card (ignoring the fact that my parents are from PA and IL respectively). But in reality, I knew I was a fraud. I listen to NPR, drink craft beer, and cling to my liberal politics. My childhood will never be confused with Johnny Cash’s or Willie Nelson’s. I’ve never worked on a farm or gone hunting. I am not, as far as I can tell, a ‘redneck’. However, I’ve come to 2 conclusions regarding all this, 1) none of that crap really matters and 2) who cares when there are artists like Zoe Muth out there.
Starlight Hotel is the sophomore record by Zoe Muth and the Lost High Rollers. Though tighter and featuring a more full-band type sound, the record has many of the same calling cards as the gorgeous debut. With a haunting voice that treads soul and country and can only be described as a cosmic americana, Zoe Muth delivers songs that sound like vintage country classics. What makes Starlight Hotel truly spectacular though is the continuing prominence of the Lost High Rollers. I don’t know how Miss Zuth managed to corral a top notch pedal steel player and a top notch mandolin player into the same band, but man do they go to town here. The band creates a warm sound that is distinctively country, but deceptively modern, which may be as good a definition as any for what makes alternative country alternative country.
Zoe Muth and her Lost High Rollers are the real deal. Any fan of roots music would do well to pick up either Starlight Hotel or the self-titled record.
About the author: Specializes in Dead, Drunk, and Nakedness..... Former College Radio DJ and Current Craft Beer Nerd