Search - Audrey Auld Mezera :: Texas

Music With The Dirt Left On

prisrob | New EnglandUSA | 04/03/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Audrey Auld Mezera describes her style as "music with the dirt left on, closer to being organic, than something that's been manufactured." Audrey Auld Mezera sings the real old fashioned Texas twangin' country sound." 'Texas' is the first release from Audrey Auld Mezera since becoming a U.S. citizen and adopting her married name. She is an Aussie, and with her band mate Bill Chambers, she recorded her third CD in Austin, Texas.





'Texas' is about people, all the people that Audrey Auld Mezera loves, admires and respects. Some of these people she knows well, and some she knows not at all except through their legend. Woody Guthrie, Harlan Howard, Billy Joe Shaver, Karla Faye Tucker, Dead Ringer Band, her father, her husband, and the universal family. Audrey Auld Mezera wrote all the songs except for one, "Karla Faye".



There are eleven tracks on this CD. Some of the CD is a little uneven, however, all the track are enjoyable, listen to the words and the music and the country flavor.



"Love You Like The Earth" is my favorite It is a love song. "I love you like a storm, I love you like the birds flyin' in the Spring, I love you like the clouds floating on the wind" down home and loving.



"Karla Faye" is a song about a woman who killed two people and then became a born again Christian while in prison. She was denied a pardon and was executed.



"My Father" is an ode to Audrey's father, for the love and support he gave her particularly through her teen age years.



"Song for Harlan" Audrey heard that Harlan Howard had died. He was known as the man to know in Austin who helped so many. A little bit of Lucinda Williams in this sound.



"Ball and Chain" a thought of how life can keep you tethered and sung with her band mate Bill Chambers.



"Hole In My Life" supports the thought of death. Audrey saw a sign about a Walk for Aids and how it affects everyone's life.



"Woody" is an ode to a man she did not know personally, but knew Woody Guthrie through his reputation. An homage to a singer/songwriter,



"Missin Mez" thoughts of her husband, whom she met at 18 and married 21 years later. She wrote this song during the 6 weeks before their wedding. "Miss you like outlaws, everything is mine."



"Billy Joe" is a thoughtful piece about Billy Joe Shaver in the year his son, wife and mother died, and how he addressed his loneliness and life.



"Shine" is a traveling song related to the Australian group she toured with, the Dead Ringer band. They were an inspiration.



"One Eye" as much about Audrey as anyone, you need to keep your one eye open in this world.



Audrey says "The one-take tracks include the creaking of the pump organ pedals, the anticipation of skin on steel & wood, the deflated sighs as John Kerry conceded, and the ash softy falling from Gabe's cigarette." The Texas sound versus the Nashville sound, the gravel dirt compared to the city lights. 'Texas' is the CD that brings you back to the earth, to the roots, to the bare bones of music, to the country sound. Gravelly voice and luscious notes that flow into the basic needs of life. Highly Recommended. prisrob April 2, 2006

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Americana/alt country flourishes in red Australian "dirt"

Robert K. Mccartney | Manly, Australia | 05/11/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"TEXAS proves that Audrey's "music with the dirt left on" continues to provide fans of americana/alt country everywhere with heart-felt stories in music even though she's transplanted herself to California. The red dirt of Australia/Tasmania has nourished 11 memorable tracks 'grown in America'"

My recommendation is to go buy a copy of Texas

Greg Adams | Sydney, Australia | 04/27/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Audrey Auld Mezera's latest album Texas is currently, by far, the most popular in my CD-stacker. This lovely and talented Australian songbird who now lives in the US has put together a collection of unforgettable tracks on her first US-recorded album, blending graceful acoustic guitar with her honest lyrics and unique voice which automatically sets her apart from the rest. For my money, the highlights on the album are the Mary Gauthier penned and absolutely-hauntingly-beautiful "Karla Faye" (the compelling story of the 15-year-death-row inmate Karla Faye Tucker executed in Texas in 1998), "Hole In My Life" (a beautifully written song with captivating lyrics), "My Father" (an enchanting song to Audrey's father), "Woody" (a beautifully-crafted song about Woody Guthrie), Missin Mez (a charming missing-love song), and the list goes on. Not a bad track on the entire album. Bill Chambers' influence over the music on many of the tracks is reminiscent of my great memories of the Bill & Audrey days, with Bill's unmistakeable magician-like command over the electric, dobro and lap steel guitars adding that wonderful sound I've just enjoyed so much for so many years. This album contains beautiful guitar-work and lyrics that linger-on in my head, long after the listening, reminding me that Audrey is a very special talent. My recommendation to anyone into quality, earthy, pure country music is to go buy a copy. You will not be disappointed."