They’re not quite country, and they’re not quite rock ‘n’ roll, either. Earlier this year, Detroit natives the Whiskey Charmers (Carrie Shepard on vocals and Lawrence Daversa on guitar) self-released an impressive eponymous album chock-full of Americana goodness, settling into an enchanting cross-genre purgatory.
It’s the duo’s first album, but is quite far from amateurish. It’s been receiving widespread praise ever since it dropped in March, and rightfully so. Shepard and Daversa have struck a musical gold mine in a Wild Wild West vein, laden with bluesy, haunted melodies and standout vocals. The pair isn’t tied down by the current limitations of the contemporary country genre, nor do heavy guitars or rock energy flood the album’s…
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…aura; portion control is found.
“Elevator” is a strong opener — a unique, retro-chic number that sets the tone for the rest of the acoustic journey. Weeping, sliding guitars back up Shepard’s smoky pleas throughout. She sounds like a mix of Sheryl Crow and Sarah McLachlan: eerie with the right tinge of twang.
“C Blues” sets itself apart as a charmingly stripped, enigmatic throwback tune that’s a great benchmark for the album. “Vampire” is a stellar lyric (‘I said, do you want some wine? He said no, you’ll do just fine, and by the way your immortal soul is mine’), and the whole thing finishes well with the all-encompassing “Waltz.” As we all know, it’s so rare to find great Americana these days, let alone great roots-based non-garage music in Detroit. The Whiskey Charmers bring a surprising amount of heart to what they do, paving their own authentic path along the way.
1. Elevator (3:59)
2. Vampire (4:27)
3. Straight and Narrow (4:49)
4. Neon Motel Room (3:44)
5. C Blues (2:11)
6. Parlor Lights (5:13)
7. Can’t Leave (4:01)
8. Sidewinder (5:10)
9. Waltz (3:50)