Love Her, Too: Sunny Sweeney
SUNNY SWEENEY
Album: Heartbreaker’s Hall of Fame (Big Machine)
In stores: March 6
Why we care: Country newcomer Sweeney has a Loretta Lynn crush and an East Texas accent strong enough to knock your Stetson off. This is the most refreshing honky-tonk album we’ve heard in a while — delivered by a looker with no interest in crossover cash.
Why we like it: Her high, lonesome twang has a bittersweet edge, but rest assured, this cowgirl likes kicking up her boots as much as crying in her beer. When she’s not writing her own tunes, Sweeney has smart taste in songwriters, including Iris Dement and Jim Lauderdale, the latter of whom joins her for a duet. If you’re always lamenting the current state of country music, this old-school debut is for you.
Reminds us of: $1 Bud Night at Gilley’s
Download these: East Texas Pines and Ten Years Pass
Grade: B+
Sean Daly is the pop music critic for the St. Petersburg Times. His CD collection -- from Journey to Dylan, Prince to U2, Public Enemy to Stan Getz -- is much bigger and better than yours.
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