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 03/2009

    Jim White
    A Funny Little Cross to Bear

  • reviewed 07/2016

    Anthony D'Amato
    Cold Snap

  • reviewed 03/2007

    Susan Werner
    The Gospel Truth

  • reviewed 03/2010

    THE STEEL WHEELS
    RED WING

  • reviewed 05/2011

    SALLIE FORD & THE SOUND OUTSIDE
    Dirty Radio

  • reviewed 10/2009

    JOSHUA JAMES
    Build Me This

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.