"Album & Demo Reviews"

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by Pam West... 

James Rider • FourTwenty a.m.

No. 9 Mgmt., 7422 Belden St., Philadelphia, PA 19111
Soulful and raw, eclectic country from Austin's James Rider. Bluesy and back-porch ballsy, these ten guitar and bass-driven tracks demonstrate Rider's tell-it-like-it-is sensibility with animated storytelling and acoustic genius. "Keep It Simple" is an example of his fun, up-tempo Americana, while some songs are tempered with softer acoustic sound -- all flavored with some light, traditional harmonies, mandolin, harmonica, and fiddle. I loved the happy little song about death, "Last Will & Testament."

by Dennis Katsanis... 

Bronwen Barnett

492 East 4th Ave., Salt Lake City, UT 84103
This doe-eyed beauty’s voice is an unbelievable combination of heartbreak, power and subtlety, in the Pasty Cline mode. A triple threat, she writes, sings and delivers the goods on a well tuned, fully polished collection of country flavored pop. Fittingly, her Carlene Carter style road song "Just Drive On" shows off her sassy and playful side in a revved up city-billy style that’s firing on all cylinders and taking every turn on two wheels.


 
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