Carrie Rodriguez : She Ain't Me

Country Music Album Review

Carrie Rodriguez : She Ain't Me

You can win this album on Rodeoattitude. Watch this space for news of our easy-to-enter free competition!

Carrie Rodriguez is an artist who is developing at the speed of light and if you don't like change, this album could well be unsettling.

First off, don't expect too much of that down home Country fiddle music here. This is the album of an artist who is coming of age, musically, and has moved way beyond her roots.

I first encountered her talents on a Chip Taylor Country album. A sweet voiced fiddle player with a little edge to her performances.

The opening track - "Infinite Night" should warn listeners she's way beyond that point now.

This is cutting-edge music with politically charged lyrics that leave you in no doubt of her views on war and greed and poverty.

The fiddle for which she is so famous first truly shows up on "Absence". To many that hacksaw sound will be unmusical in the extreme. It's truly astonishing to me.

And on "El Dorado" she simply makes the fiddle talk. She is VERY talented.

She tackles religion and the blues ("Mask Of Moses") though from such an obtuse angle that no-one need be offended.

And she gets close to a Country song on "The Big Mistake"

Rodriguez shows her vocal skills at their very best on "Rag Doll", a full on modern pop ballad.

"She Ain't Me" is a wonderful modern pop song. It ain't Country but - please - don't be put off. It's not your typical thought free top 100 pop song. This is thoughtful and well written.

I guess I should have seen the change in Carrie Rodriguez coming. The album cover is a picture of the lady looking sophisticated and much as though she'd be more at home on Fifth Avenue than at a hoedown.

I suspect that she's actually equally at home in both, and that is why she is such an extraordinary talent.

BUY THIS ONE!