The Honeycutters
Me Oh My
Reviewed by: Jane Roser
Asheville, North Carolina country roots band The Honeycutters’ third studio album, Me Oh My, is like a time machine on a shiny disc; classic, old-timey country and folk tunes with catchy melodies and lyrics that drip in poetry.
When I first heard the opening track “Jukebox”, I thought “how did my Patsy Cline CD get in there?” Lead singer and songwriter Amanda Anne Platt delivers strong vocals with a sweet tea twang; singing themes about love, loss and redemption throughout the album’s 14 tracks, but this one was my favorite. It’s a fun, toe-tapping honky tonk anthem, but is not the least bit transparent or repetitive. “Jukebox” is about enjoying life to the fullest and not taking yourself too seriously, but “I’ve got a quarter for the jukebox/honey, I’m going dancing, you coming or not?”
“Ain’t It The Truth” is a classic, 50s style country song of the “I’m just a fool for you” genre which tells of a cheatin’ man whose woman sticks by his side even though the entire town knows their business: “when the mailman brings me a letter/he tries to talk some sense to me/says honey you could do much better/you still got peaches in your tree.” It’s sassy, and I just love sassy.
“Little Bird” is a beautifully haunting song that reveals the pain of loneliness once you realize that the one you love doesn’t feel the same way. The lyrics are drenched in despair and are sadly relatable: “I watch the dust dance across the floor/it used to be so easy to ignore.”
Take away the melodies and you have a beautiful book of unique, spell-binding poetry. Add Platt’s gorgeous vocals, Tal Taylor’s mandolin, Rick Cooper’s bass, Josh Milligan’s percussion and Matt Smith’s pedal steel, electric guitar and dobro and you have a rollicking revival of a kitchen party. Be sure to invite all of your friends.
Rating: Bad-Ass
