Mandy Mercier

Mandy Mercier offers her first release since 2006 and it's a gem. Her all-out style is laden with blues, roadhouse, jazz, country, folk, and rock, all wrapped in an entertaining set of over-the-speed-limit Texas tunes. Mercier is the primary composer, covering only three and co-writing a couple. This talented Texan is as much at home singing ballad... s in a lounge-singer setting as she is banging out raucous anthems on a rock festival stage. Versed in guitar and fiddle, Mercier assembles a respected list of pickers for this project, recording in four different studios and including tracks recorded live on KUT in Austin. The physical project is complete with liner notes and photos of Mercier at different stages of her career, including a photo with Leland Sklar, making her the envy of most Texas bass guitarists. Appearing on the album are greats like Champ Hood and Dan Earhart, plus more names you would know, but will have to buy the album to see. This fifteen cut treasure is a testament to Mercier's stability in the Texas music world. Songs that reflect life, invoke strong memories, and iterate dreams are the order on this disc. It's entertaining from start to finish with no filler, no auto-tune, no drum tracks, and lots of smiles while singing. (you can tell by listening, yes you can) This is the way a Texas album should be recorded; an artist, surrounded by musicians she trusts to adopt her vision of each song. The arrangements are stellar and Mercier's performances are her best yet. The vocal work on this album is clearly Mercier, with no frills and no attempts to be a pop star. Mandy lays it all out there and sings directly to you. It's exactly what you wish every artist would do. Mercier sees each release as a gift to her audience, and with this album, she's given her most prized gift ever. The album's best cut might be "You Were The One. It sounds as if Mandy is approaching the tune as if it's the last song she's ever going to sing to you and she wants you to remember it forever. I think you will.Read More