Grown up Country music
I first received this album over a year ago and loved it instantly; but due to record company hassles it never actually got released. Katie has now taken the Mastertapes and shined some rough spots and roughed up shiny bits and is now releasing the album herself in the format she originally wanted it to sound.
All of the songs on the album were written by Katie in her hometown of Melbourne, Australia or latterly in her new home in Los Angeles; and wouldn’t take a huge leap of the imagination to hear any of these songs on the soundtrack of the Nashville TV programme.
My ears pricked up during the opening bars of first trackHearts Don’t Bend and remained on high alert all the way through to the closer, Closer.
While We (Started a Fire) has received plenty of radio play when released as a single; my favourite track is Not Who You Say You Are which is so hot it virtually scorches the CD player.
Another stand out track is Penelope, which is one of the slower and more intimate songs here and features Country legend Kris Kristofferson on harmonies.
Katie Cole has a good way of capturing a story in her lyrics and now she just needs a little bit of luck to get her classy voice and songs on mainstream Country radio.
This is the ‘Pop’ end of Country and Americana music; and won’t appeal to everyone reading these words; but if you like Faith Hill, Taylor Swift or even the newly Countrified Sheryl Crow you will love LAY IT ALL DOWN too.
Released March 3rd 2014
The Rocking Magpie 