Kimmie Rhodes
Album: Cowgirl Boudoir
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 14
Website: http://www.kimmierhodes.com

Cowgirl Boudoir is Kimmie Rhodes' long anticipated new release. Despite having been a fan of Rhodes' music since the mid 90s, I was astounded to discover that she has been in the music business for 34 years; her first released debuted in 1981! In that time she has become one of the most revered of Texas singer songwriters, having had songs recorded by such greats as Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. You only have to listen to her sing, or spend 5 minutes in the same room as her to see why.

You could be forgiven for wondering if, after such a career and by her sixteenth album, she may be re- hashing earlier material, as do many. In fact, quite the opposite is true. She has returned to her roots, in a collection, which, frankly, is a complete breath of fresh air.

Accompanied throughout by her stunning Sunbird band and produced by her very talented son, Gabe Rhodes, the collection has already garnered well founded comparisons to the early work of Nanci Griffith.

Standout tracks for me include the album's opener, I Am Falling, Don't Leave me Like This and Will You.

A must, I feel for everyone's collection, whether familiar with or new to Kimmie Rhodes; a taste, simultaneously, of where she started and how far she has come.

Helen Mitchell