GREY DELISLE
Iron Flowers (Sugar Hill)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

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Alt country, already a genre rich in modern talent, became a whole lot richer when this lady showed up on the scene at the beginning of the decade. After a trio of excellent, self-released CDs, Grey DeLisle was snagged by Sugar Hill for 2004's Graceful Ghost. The classy country label is the perfect home for DeLisle's unique, deeply thoughtful music.

Iron Flowers finds DeLisle in top form on ten tunes, eight written or co-written by her, and two covers: a nice reading of Reverend Charlie Jackson's "God's Got It" and the album opener, a fragile, gorgeous interpretation of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody." DeLisle sings the classic tune in a high, gentle voice and augments the mellow acoustic backing with her autoharp. It's an interesting way to start an album, but the more you know of Grey DeLisle, the more you expect the unexpected.

You may not expect "Blueheart," however. It's a punk rock song with a massively abrasive guitar tone, and it pounces out of nowhere to pummel the senses. Either a welcome change from the usual country routine or, well... pummeled senses bleeding on the floor, depending on your point of view. I like it when artists stretch out and push the envelope, but I do wish I'd been wearing a seat belt when the track started. Most of the music on Iron Flowers falls more into the wistful, swaying category, so when they boogie at all, as they do on the title track (co-written with husband Murray Hammond of Old '97s), it's something of a jolt. When it's suddenly Iggy & The Stooges it's like a wall is falling on you.

No matter how you grade that moment, it's hard to call Iron Flowers anything less than a gem. Grey DeLisle has been a first string alt country talent for a few years now, and she only seems to get better each time out. Also included is a 20-minute video documentary on the making of the album that is quite entertaining, as well as enlightening. I can't recommend this one enough.

© 2005 - DJ Johnson