Maurice Hope – July 10, 2016 at 01:04PM
Tags:_AMERICANA
Singer-songwriter Elizabeth Cook, a Grand Ole Opry regular is one of the brightest acts in Nashville, East Nashville that is. In the past Cook’s relied, heavily, on the traditions of country music, stayed true to her country roots and though to some, a little quirky Cook’s off-centre approach is the real deal.
Through her radio show on Sirius XM’s Outlaw Country Channel called Apron Strings, Cook gets to air music she loves, and speaks her mind. A Grand Ole Opry regular her songs come from the heart, many are about her own troubled experiences or at the very least concern those close to her.
More robust than expected, Exodus Of Venus produced by Dexter Green is Cook’s first album since Welder (2010), an album that made Rolling Stones’ top 30 list in 2010, coming in at 23. In saying that she does still find space for a song with another Grand Ole Opry regular, Patty Loveless on “Straitjacket Love”, otherwise the album isn’t what you would expect, but it is gritty and totally honest! After her break from recording it will help her regain a foothold in music and a bunch of positive reviews.
She has been through a great deal during the last four years, a divorce, six deaths and a melt down while she was over here, touring the UK (“Broke Down In London On The M25”). I imagine with many songs of a rock nature (the title track, “Exodus Of Venus” certainly holds back non) she will loose a many of those looking for songs like those heard previously from this good ol’ country girl.
For those expecting more of the likes of “Sometimes It Takes Balls To Be A Woman”, “Times Are Tough In Rock’N’Roll” and “Don’t Go Borrowing Trouble” they have to settle for scraps. As in rock guitar opened feverish and a little swampy “Straitjacket Love” and superb “Orange Blossom Trail”. While those of a more open mind will find more to chew on and, will more than likely argue the two best compositions on the record are “Methadone Blues” (it could just as easily have come from a Memphis soul record) and another song inspired in part at least by Hurricane Katrina’s effect on New Orleans “Evacuation”, plus you have “Tabitha Tuder’s Mother”; a true story about a girl who went missing in 2003 and is yet to be found. Players on the album include Matt Chamberlin (drums) and Willie Weeks (bass), Jesse Aycock (pedal steel) and Ralph Lofton (keyboards).
Maurice Hope
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