Search - Chip Taylor, Carrie Rodriguez :: Let's Leave This Town

Fine debut from a newly formed duet

hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 09/13/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"He's a songwriter who's still better known for his '60s classics ("Wild Thing" "Angel of the Morning") than the fine country-folk material he's written and recorded in subsequent years. She's a 23-year-old fiddle player (and Berklee School of Music graduate) whose Austin upbringing has steeped her in Texas twang since childhood. A chance meeting at last year's South By Southwest music conference turned into an opportunity for the latter to play and sing support on domestic shows with the former. This turned into a deeper partnership on a European tour, with Rodriguez finding her voice (at Taylor's urging) and graduating to singing partner. The culmination is this album of duets, mostly written by Taylor specifically for the project.For her part, Rodriguez is a fine fiddle player, with a singing voice that takes in the plaintive Southern side of Lucinda Williams and Kimmie Rhodes, but with a bit of the blue-yodel edge shown by the Dixie Chicks' Natalie Maines. Taylor's always had the sort of rough-hewn voice that Kris Kristofferson and John Prine have used to such great affect. The difference in their tone, also reflecting the difference in their ages, is what makes their duet singing so appealing to the ears.The music sticks almost entirely to the acoustic, with stellar guitar and mandolin playing from John McGann and upright bass from Jim Whitney. The tunes ranges from old-timey influenced folk country to Texas swing and acoustic jazz. Taylor's new songs are accompanied by a pair of traditional covers ("Say Little Darlin'" and the instrumental "Midnight on the Water"), and a reprise of his own "Storybook Children" (a 1968 hit for Judy Clay and co-writer Billy Vera), the song that sparked this duo's act on stage.With SXSW having become something of a meat market at which artists display their wares to labels, it's pleasing to find something grow organically from the chance meeting of musicians, unbrokered by A&R flacks."

A wonderful new talent and some truly great songs!

Roger Jönsson | Lund, Sweden | 09/20/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Carrie Rodriguez is a wonderful, fresh new voice in country and folk music. Thank God Chip Taylor convinced her that she should sing. They sound really great together. Carrie is also a skilled musician who can play anything from snappy Texas fiddle to classical violin. Add the fact that she is beautiful beyond words, much more so than the lovely photographs in this Cd really convey (I just saw a concert with her and Chip and I was spellbound by her). I am also spellbound by some of the great songs on this lighthearted, fun cd. The titletrack, the western-swing flavoured "Extra", the sweet ballad "There's A Hole In The Midnight", the groovy "Do Your Part" and the magnificient "Sweet Tequila Blues" are all songs that I play over and over again. And even when I don't play them I can't get them out of my head. The only reason I don't give this a 5 is that some of the songs are somewhat overproduced with unnecessary string arrangements (especially "His Eyes" and "You Are Danger") These songs don't radiate with the lovely, laid-back spirit that can be heard on the rest of the record. Anyhow, I sure hope they do another cd togeher. Or maybe Chip could produce a solo album for Carrie. Please do Chip! The world sure needs to hear a lot more from her."

Just Good Time Music!

David Garvin | Sugar Land, Texas | 01/19/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Great duets and a-soon-to-be-classic "Sweet Tequila Blues" make a great record. Along with Billy Joe Shaver's Freedom's Child CD, the best Texas gave in 2002..."