A couple of years ago, at AmericanaFest, one of my highlights was seeing a trio that later called themselves Wonder Women Of Country; Kelly Willis, Brennan Leigh, and Melissa Carper. I was familiar with the beautiful voices of Willis and Leigh, but Carper was new to me. She added an authenticity and balance to the trio’s catalog with her Appalachian twang. Later I found out she was raised in Nebraska, so what do I know. Regardless, she released a record, Ramblin’ Soul, in 2022 that played to those vocal strengths. She’s about to release a new album, Borned In Ya’, that while goes in a little different direction stylistically, speaks volumes about having the old soul to pull off certain types of music.
The album starts with the title track, a song inspired by a Ralph Stanley interview where he notes that to sound like he and other mountain folk, the music had to be “borned in ya.” It starts and ends with a little gospel sound, no doubt a nod to one of the primary influences in old-timey musical genres. That original country sound also comes out in Somewhere Between Texas and Tennessee, a co-write with Leigh. It’s reminiscent of a Jimmy Rogers tune, including a bit of yodeling, and gets its roots from the many car trips the women have made individually between Austin and Nashville. Leigh also co-wrote Let’s Stay Single Together, a light-hearted look at friends having each other’s back.
Country isn’t the only American music style that’s been around a while. Jazz makes that list, and in a somewhat unexpected way leads the stylistic charge here. Carper leans into the jazz combo on Lucky Five, an ode to learning the hard way about love. Every Time We Way Goodbye is a Cole Porter cover. I Don’t Love You Anymore gets the same muted trumpet and tasty guitar in what is otherwise a slow country waltz. For some hardbitten honesty there’s Your Furniture’s Too Nice, based on experiences she and her dog have had staying with friends.
Predictability is not an adjective much of anyone would apply to Melissa Carper. Her mix of country, jazz, and soul is pretty unique. Chris Scruggs once called her Hill-Billy Holiday. I think that hits pretty close to home. If Carper’s mix of styles intrigues you, by all means you need to listen to Borned In Ya’.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.