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"Sweet Talk & Good
Lies"
A critics' darling before alt-country
existed, Heather Myles released her debut album in 1992, and
in the 10 years since, she's cemented her place as the West Coast's
distaff Dwight Yoakam, down to the posed photos and ripped jeans.
She records with his sidemen and, on this album, duets with the
man himself. Her talents, however, stand on their own. The catch
in her throaty voice, as subtle as a neon sign, infuses each
number (all but two here are originals) with passion and immediacy,
be it a glib throwaway like "Big Cars" or the acerbic
"Nashville's Gone Hollywood." Myles, always framed
by rock-ribbed twang, avoids pretense, yet "The Love You
Left Behind" deftly exposes her softer, more nuanced side.
Her inspired covers of Glen Campbell's hit "By the Time
I Get to Phoenix" and Julie London's 1950s torch song "Cry
Me a River" only underscore her passion for excellence.
Sadly, she has yet to find a broader audience and this, her finest
effort to date, only drives home that injustice. --Rich Kienzle |
