Album Review: We Still Love Our Country by Carrie Rodriguez

Why did two noted singer/songwriters get together to record an album of mostly classic country tunes penned by other artists? Who knows? The important thing is that the duo sounds like it is having a good time and pleasurably reinterpreting the material. Austin fiddler Carrie Rodriguez knows how to wrap her voice around a tune as well as let her instrument wail, weep, and laugh in accompaniment. And Romantica’s Ben Kyle understands the importance of keeping the music earnest, even deadpan, no matter how serious or silly the song.

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You won’t be able to hear this brief set of generally melancholy male/female country duets without referencing the similarly styled legendary work of Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris. And since three of the eight tracks on this barely 30 minute EP are associated with those two Americana icons, Carrie Rodriguez and Romantica frontman/songwriter Ben Kyle aren’t trying to discourage the comparisons. While these heartfelt performances may not meet the high Parsons/Harris watermark, they are every bit as committed to the material.

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