Shelley King is an Arkansas-raised soul singer who now bases out of Austin, Texas. She has developed a strong following since landing feet-first in the Lone Star State a few years back. In 2008, she was the first woman selected as the Texas State Musician, an honorary title bestowed by the state on its treasured musical acts. It's previously been given to Willie Nelson, Billy Joe Shaver, Ray Benson (Asleep at the Wheel) and Dale Watson.
Her church-trained voice is a husky contralto suited to many Southern styles of music. She seems to delve into most of them on this, her fourth album. Gospel call-and-response, straight-up torch, Cajun-spiced hooks and blues rockers can all be found within.
King wrote or co-wrote most of the material on the album, and got production and musical backing from John Magnie, Tim Cook and Steve Amedée of the Subdudes. Their rich backing harmonies and strong musicianship make this record stand out from the pack.
The session that resulted in the album started informally when King visited Magnie's Fort Collins, Colo., studio. Two more visits had the quartet realizing this warm and tender collection, which ably displays both King's material and vocals.
Standouts include the opener, "Summer Wine," a song about memories of good times, nicely driven by tight four-part vocal harmony and a gentle accordion accompaniment.
"Falling Fast," another gem, sounds something like an old swamp-pop record -- danceable and full of good times.
The title cut is old-school soul music, a tune of comfort reprised in fine fashion to also close out the album.
The solid torch-song touch on "I Can't Make It Easy" is the song that may best display King's vocal chops -- which seems to combine a splash of Janis Joplin, a pinch of Carole King, and a whole lot of plush velvet tone that belongs entirely to King.
With 10 years of serious music-making now under her belt, an honorary title in her home state, and hit-making artists like Toni Price and Lee Greenwood recording her material, King may finally get the recognition her talents deserve.
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