STEVE ELLIOTT & LUCIE WALKER
Straight Up (self-released)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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This music could have been born in a West Texas roadhouse as easily as a Bakersfield bar room, but in fact it comes from a less likely locale. Steve Elliott and Lucie Walker are based in the Canadian province of British Columbia, though Elliott originally hails from Liverpool and Walker was reared in Montreal. Somewhere, somehow, though, they got infected with a powerful dose of what they call rockincountryblues, and they're out to spread the fever.

Elliott is the principal songwriter, penning 10 of the discs 12 tracks, but the pair from Walker's pen are pretty fine songs as well, and she has a voice that's just as suited to a jukejoint jump as a heartbreak ballad. This is a great collection of country music from start to finish, sure to please traditionalists and new country fans alike. If you're lucky enough to live within reach of Vancouver, B.C. you should go catch them live at one of their regular gigs in the area and pick up a copy of this gem in person. For those at a distance, it can be found at the usual online suspects, and is well worth the click or two it will take to track down.

Track List:

Feel The Fires Rage * A Girl Would Have To Be A Fool * Borderline * Tumblin' Down * It's All Right * Cruel Cruel World * No Winner Takes All * It's Everything To Me * Take It As It Comes * The Truth Is In Your Eyes

[Pick this up at http://www.cdbaby.com.]

© 2002 - Shaun Dale