Texas singer-songwriter, Kimmie Rhodes is an honest as the day is long performer and has earned the great respect within the business over the year, both as a songwriter and country performer. Rhodes has never had the luxury of a big label behind, but through stout endeavours has won favour all-round with the likes of Willie Nelson, Wynonna (Judd), Trisha Yearwood, Amy Grant and others record her songs. Her latest album Cowgirl Boudoir isn’t one you instantly find songs with flowing rhythms, hooky lyrics but with it steeped in melancholy tunes more a slow burner. One of those records the more you listen to it the more you understand the songs and grasp the meaning of the lyrical content.
Awash in country steel, Dobro (Tommy Spurlock) and a solid rhythm section (Glen Fukunaga, bass and Dony Winn, drums, percussion) Rhodes as usual has her son, Gabe Rhodes guitar, ukelele, mandolin, keyboards who figures strongly produce the record. “I Am Falling” has fellow singer-songwriter John Goudie (acoustic guitar, piano) share vocal duties, the track along with the likes of “Will You” and dobro doused part monologue “Darlin’ Oh Darlin’ see Rhodes and her players set the theme.
“Me Again” complete with a pleasing on the ear rhythm has Rhodes recall her childhood days. “The Sky Fell Down” is another that goes back a ways, only this time Rhodes with an atmospheric feel to the song speaks of when her father and mother were alive. It speaks of how her faith was tested and how those moments of darkness can haunt one, this painful emotion is something we will all experience if we live long enough, and get to thinking back about how it once was. Rhodes is often found in reflective mood on the record, just like on “Trouble Is” as she speaks in wistful fashion and on “Don’t Leave Me Like This” too. The latter carried along by steel guitar and piano has the lady’s tone take on a pleading feel as she compares her state to that of there being no leaves on the trees or birds in the sky. Cowgirl Boudoir may not be Rhodes most adventuress recording but it is as stout and sturdy an album she has ever made.
Maurice Hope