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Stacy Morris - Borders And Boundaries
By George Peden
 If
you’ve kept your eye and ear close to Australian country music
then names like Kasey, Beccy, Gina, Keith, Adam, Lee and Troy will
bring a knowing nod. Now there’s another name you need to learn
– Stacey Morris. Mellow and moody, only to become vibrant, sassy
and rocking the next, her album is a music lover’s, a country
music lover’s, gem in the pile.
Knocking around music traps since the age of 15, the talented
singer has been on a slow simmer, honing her craft at fairs,
festivals and clubs. Now with this latest release, as her web site
says: She may be Australian but she’s taking the world by storm. A
little adventurous hype, maybe, but the gal can sing; for this album
she’s chosen gifted players, crafted writers and pleasing songs.
It all adds to wider possibilities.
The album opens with the title track. Penned by the writers of
Reba’s major hit, “Somebody”, Sam and Annie Tate, the song is
as inspirational as it is melodic. Morris is high jumping her own
borders and boundaries by winning the 2005 Frank Ifield
International Spur Award and gaining solid independent radio play.
She’s also fast becoming a fan and industry favorite.
Morris’ style offers a range that doesn’t waft or whimper,
but, rather, cuts right through to offer the right lyrical shadings.
The voice, rich and full, works well on choice choosings like the
Irene Kelley-penned “It Wasn’t Me”. Listen out for winning
cuts like the Gretchen Peters-penned “I Don’t Know” and the
evocative “Just Around The Eyes”, written by Gary Burr. Listen
also for Carole King’s “So Far Away”. Already a hometown
favorite in Oz, it’s just one of 12 musical reasons to check this
album out.
Stacy Morris. Remember the name. She’s set to join some others
you know.
www.staceymorris.com.au
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March 2006
February 2006
January
2006
December 2005
November
2005
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The Dust Devils - Gathering Dust
By Cheryl Harvey Hill
 If
you've had the opportunity to listen to this album it will be
perfectly clear why The Dust Devil's, comprised of husband and wife
duo Barbara Malteze and Kevin Higgins and formerly known as the
Cosmic Dust Devils, were recognized in five categories by the *Texas
Music awards (awards sanctioned by the Academy of Texas Music). They
received nominations for Female Vocalist of the Year,
Singer/Songwriter of the Year, Song of the Year ("Walk
On"), Vocal Duo/Group of the Year, and Album of the Year.
If you were to make a list of dynamic musical
pairings, Higgins and Malteze would certainly be on it. Higgins is a
most gifted writer and wrote eleven of the twelve songs on Gathering
Dust except for "Looking for Pearl" which was
co-written by Malteze. When two individuals this talented come
together, the end result is pure magic and the icing on the cake is
that they accent their own talents by recording with first-rate
musicians.
Standing on the edge I wonder / Just what it is
I’m looking for? / Truth is cast in shadows / I pray to God there
must be something more.
All of the lyrics are visual and powerful but
having them delivered by Malteze takes them to the next level. Her
vocal delivery varies dramatically from song to song; sometimes her
delivery is smooth as silk on silk while on others she sounds like
Janis Joplin (when she was at her very best). On the final track,
"Walk On," Higgins philosophical recitation is delivered
with the kind of honestly and simplicity that is sure to put him on
par with the legendary cowboy poet Red Stegall.
There is a whole lot of livin', lovin' and leavin'
on this album; rather like "Lone Star Beer and Bob Wills
Music" but with a dash of Tabasco followed by a McKendric
Mesquite Mellowed Whiskey chaser. This is one CD that won't be Gathering
Dust in anyone's collection.
*Presented by MyTexasMusic.com, the 2006 Texas
Music Awards will be hosted by Michael Martin Murphy, presented on
Saturday, March 25, 2006, 2pm, at the premiere Music City Texas
Theater in Linden, TX. The awards show is scripted, and will
be filmed. To view the complete list of nominees visit:
www.TexasMusicAwards.org
www.CosmicDustDevils.com |
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One Mile South - One
Mile South
By Jim Weaver
 Just
imagine if James Taylor, Ronnie Milsap and Blackhawk spawned a band,
just what might that sound like, the answer could be One Mile South.
Not the direction, but the Nashville band of singer/songwriters that
consist of lead singer Tim Schnieder, Gary Bunning on guitar and
harmony vocals and Daniel Palasset on bass and harmony vocals. Their
self-titled debut CD actually came out about a year ago, but since I
just found it, it's new to me and possibly you as well. While
writing this mini review it struck me that I was only able to hear
these guys through the song clips on their website. I haven't even
heard one whole song yet, and here I am compelled to share this band
with you. So the examination of my ears and brain began and it
didn't take long to figure it out, while listening to the clips I
found myself really wanting to hear the rest of each song, all of
them. In 20+ years of monkeying with the music business as a
musician, singer and radio jock, there just hasn't been very many
times that has happened. These
guys deserve a legitimate shot at a major record deal, sure they
sound great but the prerequisite these days seems to be, "do
they sound different?" The answer is a resounding
"yes". In a good way. I
want to hear the rest of this band, my guess is, you will too.
www.OneMileSouth.com |
Here at
CountryStarsOnline.com we’re always on the lookout for emerging
talent, and acts that have been around for a while, but
without the fanfare they deserve. That’s going to change. Here in
"
Waiting In The Wings" we’re going to introduce you to acts and
performers who, for one reason or another, have caught our eye and
our ear. We think you’ll like them.
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