Description
This is ‘Border Americana,’ Shocked’s unique tribute to both her Latin and Texas roots. Grounded in the blues tradition that infuses all of her work, it squares off with the influences of her adapted home, Los Angeles. ‘You know more Spanish than you think you do,’ is how she accounts for the showdown between the Texas blues on one side and the ‘Spanglish’ stories she weaves on the other. One of Three in the ‘Threesome Series’. Mighty Sound. 2005.
From Amazon.com
Michelle Shocked sounds particularly playful while playing things loose on the most roots-oriented of the three albums she released simultaneously in June 2005. Stylistically, Mexican Standoff divides itself down the middle, with the first half exploring Mexican border music and the second half devoted to Texas-style blues. The Mexican music ranges from the mariachi brass of “Lonely Planet” to the conjunto accordion of “La Cantina el Gato Negro” to the torchy “Match Burns Twice.” On “Wanted Man,” Shocked moves into the sort of narrative territory frequented by the likes of Joe Ely and Tom Russell, while “Picoesque” matches gospel piano with vocal dramatics so over the top they amount to caricature. While the first half of the album is all over the musical map, the bluesy half is more of a piece, with stinging guitar and bedrock organ suggesting that Shocked has channeled the swaggering spirit of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. –Don McLeese
Track Listing:
1. Lonely Planet
2. La Cantina el Gato Negro
3. Wanted Man
4. Picoesque
5. Match Burns Twice
6. Mouth Of The Mississippi
7. Bitter Pill
8. 180 Proof
9. Weasel Be Poppin’
10. Blackjack Heart
