Bourbon Express’ new release Cry About It Later, produced by Eric “Roscoe” Ambel, is a trip on the playful side of alt-country. Katie Curley composed the songs on the album, and plays guitar and harp. Since harp is a seldom-played instrument, we’ll say that again: she plays the harp. Brendan Curley contributes guitar, piano and mandolin and Sarah Kinsey sings backup; Jonny Lam plays pedal steel with Phil Cimino on drums; Andrew Dykeman is on bass except one song where Jason Mercer stepped in; and Melody Berger is on fiddle, while Eric Ambel played acoustic guitar on one track and backup vocals on another.
The entire album is throwback old-style country with a mirthful vibe. “Pick Me Up” is an entertaining yet oh-so-true song about needing to get away from it all (in a pick-up truck) and being broke until the end of the month. “Devil’s Angel“ is featured in a hilarious spoofy video. We suggest you watch, all the way through the “chicken wing scarfing” scene to Ambel’s snarky ending for a sidesplitting dose of late 1980’s throwback music video nostalgia:
On the title track, “Cry About it Later,” K. Curley’s vocals are highlighted against the backdrop of B. Curley’s guitar traipsing among the shuffle beat. This song really captures the album’s “throwback to Patsy Cline style” aspects, and not just vocally, it’s the entire arrangement. “Telecaster Man” adds poppy rock rhythms; while “Take Me Out” and “Dream Girl” are more straightforward songs of love and angst. “Dilly Dally” has some old timey piano and “Five to Nine“ is a tongue-in cheek song about the way a job can try to win your soul. “Cold Quiet Drink” is the self-proclaimed “campfire song,” featuring Eric Ambel on acoustic guitar, with everybody hushed and together in one room around their microphones for that one. This song is more than a campfire song, though, it’s also a “drowning your sorrows at a bar, meeting a new man” song, presented in a Tammy Wynette style. Overall a very entertaining, snappy, and likeable collection.
Get your copy today and check Bourbon Express’ tour dates, here.
http://www.bourbonexpress.com/tourpage/
For some more of K. Curley’s solo harp playing check out her work on the Solo Sounds, Record Label, here.