Thea Hopkins has a wonderfully sonorous voice, husky and full of character. She sounds as though she was made for country music and this mini-album is some of the best country I’ve heard in ages. Thea Hopkins wrote one of the biggest country hits in years ‘Jesus Is On The Wire’ so she has plenty of history.
She has moved away from the folk of her first recordings and her band features Lyle Lovett’s piano player Tim Ray as well as Mike Piehl who has spent time with Peter Wolf as well as Chris Smither. An old favourite of mine, Susan Cattaneo, supplys backing and harmony vocals.
The six songs on this set are mainly self-written and the title track is a stonking piece of country rock but her version of ‘Do Your Best For Rock And Roll’ with a simple bass and piano backing is gorgeous – slow and intense and completely compelling.
A true country singer, rather than C&W, and if that is your ‘thing’ this is a very fine little set.
