Judy Klass
Brooklyn Cowgirl
Orleans Records – 2511
Recorded in 2000
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This is a very strong case for the maxim of don’t judge a book by its cover, there is a great slightly fuzzy picture of some brownstone buildings reminiscent of Brooklyn, with a girl in a cowboy hat (she is just slightly out of focus also) in what I suppose is someone’s idea of the classic western gaze out at that place that comes after the horizon look, holding a guitar case. Yet when the sound comes through there is some very classic sounding country swing/rock sounding songs, characterized by for the most part, some very good and clever songwriting that sound very convincing. The band is tight and plays well to her arrangements and deserves a mention whether she met them or not. There was a note that she didn’t meet them or that she doesn’t have a touring band yet, still the job they did here deserves that they at least get credit for the work they did. (As the previous sentence was being
written there was a line in, “I Do Know What I’m Gonna Do With You,” that says, “Let’s Jam!” as the band goes off into a great break. Perfect timing.
Her voice is strong and good and very convincing with the material she has chosen to present to us on this disc. It is definitely more a Nashville sound, and the references are more from that locale than from the land further west where the cowboys and cowgirls frolic. She has a very sharp wit and some of the songs have good insights into common problems no matter the locale, “Sex With Your Ex,” and “He Done Her Wrong,” stand out. She is someone to take note of because the songs are so good.