It’s a measure of Aimee Mann’s skills that even though she admits feeling “possessed” when writing about someone else’s memoir, she’s definitely made it her own.
For this Shack Shakers edition, J.D. Wilkes shifts to high octane country swing, mashing Commander Cody and Asleep at the Wheel’s trademarked Texas soufflé with good natured honky-tonk.
It appears that Emily Scott Robinson can no longer be labelled as an emerging talent; with this album she’s surely already there.
This record captures Cash in a transitory stretch - not yet lauded as the spokesperson for the downtrodden and a progenitor of the “outlaw” sound, but rather a talented country musician plying his trade on the road.
You Get It All indeed does have it all: the good, the bad and the most acute challenges of human experience which Carll treats with humor, heart and clear-eyed intelligence.
It’s clear that Shane is well-positioned to carve a niche as a popular contemporary country performer; he clearly possesses the energy and enthusiasm needed to do so. Suffice it to say, Backslider offers him the means to keep moving forward.
