Allison Moorer is no stranger to the country music scene. The Sugar Hill Records recording artist has eight albums under her belt, beginning with her first, “Alabama Song” released by MCA in 1998.
After experiencing the murder/suicide of her parents early in her life, one can say Moorer has experienced her fair share of tragedies, which often lend themselves creatively to her music.
Raised on the voices of George Jones and Tammy Wynette, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Emmylou Harris, Moorer began her career belting out a more traditional, harmonizing, twangy tone common in the country music genre. This rings true in her earlier albums, including “Getting Somewhere” and “The Hardest Part.”
In recent years, albums such as “Mockingbird” in 2008 have proven that the singer/songwriter has transitioned into a softer, almost naked sounding artist.
On her latest album “Crows,” Moorer goes for a more organic feel, with minimal instrumentation, albeit a guitar or two.
In the past, Moorer has tried to include tracks with such blues influences; they could send listeners’ minds wandering to the grittiest of bayou jazz clubs. However, most tracks on “Crows” sound as delicate as a baby’s lullaby.
Moorer sticks to what she has done beautifully over the years - lyrics, with words that “Fall down on me like a feather, floating on the breeze,” as she so aptly sings on the first track, “Abalone Sky.”
The album’s sound almost fooled this would-be critic into believing I was listening to something more like adult contemporary. However, I was reminded of those country influences every now and then, as they managed to peek through with Moorer’s harmonizing and little guitar rifts.
The album’s pacing was quite nice, too. Just when I was starting to feel a little sullen or sleepy, Moorer picked up the tempo and gave me something to tap my toes to.
While researching Moorer, I was disappointed to learn that her talents have not really caught on in mainstream circles.
She received an Academy Award nomination for her 1998 song “A Soft Place to Fall.” The song was also used for the movie “The Horse Whisperer.” However, none of her singles from “Alabama Song” or its follow-up, “The Hardest Part” caught on at radio.
Perhaps, this minimal publicity and underground track record has helped Moorer stay grounded and grow into the impressive talent she is today.
It certainly shines through on “Crows.”
