Search - Alecia Nugent :: Hillbilly Goddess

"Goddess" Nugent Worthy of Veneration

T. Yap | Sydney, NSW, Australia | 05/18/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Prime Cuts: Dyin' to Hold Her Again, Just Another Alice, Already Home



To be christened as the "Hillbilly Goddess," Nugent has quite a tall order to live up to. Nevertheless, with the songs on this CD so gloriously divine, Nugent can unabashedly hold fast to her reigning sceptre. As the title of this album suggests, this is a truly "hillbilly" record amalgamating the best of bluegrass and country into its template in winsome ways. Part of the reason why this CD works so favourably is the input of helmsman Carl Jackson who has chosen songs that present piquant slices of life that speak wisdom, healing and comfort to anyone weary with the cares of living. And it comes as no surprise that most of these songs come from the pens of a plethora of elite from both the country and bluegrass communities including Jerry Salley, Tim O'Brien, Tom T. Hall, Larry Cordle, and Buddy and Julie Miller. Further, as a vocalist, Nugent knows how to incarnate herself into each track making it sound as though they are stories birthed right out of her life's journey.



The realism of these songs is distinctively striking: it doesn't take much to shed a tear of disappointment when Nugent tells the story of an aspiring singer who never finds her dream fulfilled in the plaintive ballad "Just Another Alice." Though numerous songs have tackled the abuses of alcohol on a family, Jerry Salley's "Dyin' to Hold Her Again" is so three dimensional engaging that you can't help but imagine yourself standing right by the protagonist as he prays with abject desperation, "Lord take me away. I can't drink enough whiskey to ease all the pain I'm in." This is soul rendering stuff at its prime. Not all is stymie, the title track "Hillbilly Goddess" is a delightful celebration of a domestic heroine who may not be a glamour queen, but to her hubby she's his "hillbilly goddess."



Nugent has also not yielded to the perennial temptation of bluegrass records to excel in its instrumentation at the expense of the song's quality. "Last Greyhound" is an intricately crafted narrative about a 18-year old runaway only to discover in hindsight that home is actually her true destiny. Nugent takes on an excursion to George Jones-Tammy Wynette territory with "Writing on the Wall," a barroom weeper of love gone wrong, with Nugent and Bradley West almost rivalling the King and Queen of country. With just a piano as her backup, Nugent shimmers with so much emotion on the spiritually hopeful "Already Home."



From start to finish, Nugent keeps us on our toes as we meet the different characters of her songs. There's never a dull moment. There's such richness in each story's details that will keep us returning to them again and again. This album is so heavenly that it makes this goddess worthy of music's greatest veneration.

"

Hillbilly Goddess

J. mendoza | 11/09/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD by Alecia Nugent is totally fantastic. The title track song is so great it brings chills. All the songs are truly good country songs written by talented writers, and Alecia Nugent continues to make a place for herself in the hall of fame. This CD is one of my all time favorites."

Aptly Titled

Geoffrey C. Simons | Bull Creek, WA Australia | 06/15/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Hillbilly Goddess", the third CD release by this delightful singer, is the best thus far. Impeccable instrumentation and a voice that will convert any unbeliever to this magical music. Favourite tracks: "Just Another Alice", "Dyin' To Hold Her Again", the duet with Bradley Walker "The Writing's All Over The Wall" (about time that he released another album), and the wonderful "Nugent Family Band" which was co-written by Alecia and veteran song writers Tom T. and Dixie Hall. A special mention is necessary for the flawless production by Carl Jackson. Let's have more of this soon!"