ALBUM REVIEW
Mandy Mercier
SINGER IN A ROADHOUSE BAND
©2010 Wild Cantinas Records
WCR 1-003
MTM244603
Review by Lucky Boyd
Co-Founder, MyTexasMusic.com
Mandy Mercier offers her first release since 2006 and it’s a gem. Her
all-out style is laden with blues, roadhouse, jazz, country, folk, and rock,
all wrapped in an entertaining set of over-the-speed-limit Texas tunes.
Mercier is the primary composer, covering only three and co-writing a
couple. This talented Texan is as much at home singing ballads in a
lounge-singer setting as she is banging out raucous anthems on a rock
festival stage. Versed in guitar and fiddle, Mercier assembles a respected
list of pickers for this project, recording in four different studios and
including tracks recorded live on KUT in Austin. The physical project is
complete with liner notes and photos of Mercier at different stages of her
career, including a photo with Leland Sklar, making her the envy of most
Texas bass guitarists. Appearing on the album are greats like Champ Hood
and Dan Earhart, plus more names you would know, but will have to buy the
album to see. This fifteen cut treasure is a testament to Mercier’s
stability in the Texas music world. Songs that reflect life, invoke strong
memories, and iterate dreams are the order on this disc. It’s entertaining
from start to finish with no filler, no auto-tune, no drum tracks, and lots
of smiles while singing. (you can tell by listening, yes you can) This is
the way a Texas album should be recorded; an artist, surrounded by musicians
she trusts to adopt her vision of each song. The arrangements are stellar
and Mercier’s performances are her best yet. The vocal work on this album
is clearly Mercier, with no frills and no attempts to be a pop star. Mandy
lays it all out there and sings directly to you. It’s exactly what you wish
every artist would do. Mercier sees each release as a gift to her audience,
and with this album, she’s given her most prized gift ever. The album’s
best cut might be “You Were The One.” It sounds as if Mandy is approaching
the tune as if it’s the last song she’s ever going to sing to you and she
wants you to remember it forever. I think you will.
Go to the
Mandy
Mercier
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