AMANDA SHIRES

West Cross Timbers

2009-11-06

Amanda Shires is a fiddle-and-guitar-playing young woman from Lubbock who cut her teeth playing on the side for the legendary western swing band the Texas Playboys at the age of 16. This is her first real solo outing and it is drawing praise from musicians such as Chris Isaak, Justin Townes Earle and Slaid Cleves -- as well as innumerable marriage offers from the (in)famous singer/humorist Kinky Friedman. The opening songs starts with her asserting, "I hope I haunt you good," and even though that tune is not representative of the entire set, Amanda's higher-register delivery and fondness for traditional folk storytelling grow on you. The dark "I Kept watch Like the Doves" and the outstanding "Mineral Wells" show a special talent. I hope she gets her chance to build a national audience; there's a lot more here than we can take in from these 11 songs. 11/09 Michael J. F-Americana

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Folk

  • reviewed 06/2014

    LIZ KENNEDY
    Speed Bump

  • reviewed 09/2008

    VARIOUS
    To Spirit Back the Mews: An Asthmatic Kitty Compilation

  • reviewed 06/2011

    THE GREENCARDS
    The Brick Album

  • reviewed 12/2006

    LACH
    Blang!

  • reviewed 11/2016

    Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band
    The Rarity Of Experience Disks 1 & 2

  • reviewed 08/2005

    Amy Rigby
    Little Fugitive

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.