by Dominic Acito (@mycamgrlromance)
Typically, mentions of country music are met with rolled eyes and expectations about twangy, depressing stories of lost love or thinly veiled pop songs with the occasional banjo and references to skin tight jeans and the love of trucks. However, when you dig a little deeper into the understanding of country music (or should I say misunderstanding) lies the tradition of an entire canon of American music with deep roots in traditional folk songs entwined with the country’s history. Country music is rich with gifted songwriters and talented musicians.
Emily Rose and the Rounders are a testament to the best of the American country music tradition. Their music conjures up images of open roads and summer nights, without ever having to mention them by name. Rose, as a songwriter, summons these beautiful images. She doesn’t need to spell it out. She possesses an intimate understanding of a troubadour, a person who hears the call of the open road louder than others. While that causes difficulties, it’s not a bad thing.
The album’s single, “Wildfire,” could be argued as a breakup song. However, there is no self pity in this song. It acknowledges a sadness about a fracturing relationship but it also celebrates the original attraction that brought them together, their independent natures. Alas, independence, is also what prevents them from staying together. The song laments the separation without blame, only a relationship remembered with fondness and a sincere hope that they both find what they are looking for in their restlessness.
The only thing that might be more enjoyable than listening to these songs would be hearing and seeing them performed. One can easily imagine band members exchanging smiles as they trade solos that complement one another and more importantly the songs. It would be reminiscent of legendary country bands like Merle Haggard’s The Strangers as the band feel as though they’ve been playing together for many years. The Rounders (formerly known as The Blue Rose Rounders) are complemented by the recording style, of a live band playing off of one another’s chemistry in the studio in such a way that you can almost feel their friendship, especially on the more upbeat songs.
As much fun as some of the songs are on this record, that doesn’t mean there aren’t great sad songs. “December” could easily be a song sung by Willie Nelson or Waylon Jennings. It describes a reminiscent evening in a pool hall while providing the perfect soundtrack to one. The same could be said for “One Drink” where Rose asks for one more drink before she goes back on the road. The album closes on a similar note to “Wildfire” with “A Horse Without A Rider,” a song about the ending of a relationship with the wisdom gained by years on the road, by finding comfort because “it’s enough to know I’m on your mind from time to time”.