Stacey Earle
Dancin' With Them That Brung You

By Steven Stone
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  If Stacey Earle were a painter her work would look like Grandma Moses. It is primitive and graphic with a familiar folksy edge. This Steve Earle's older sister's second independent release. Like the first, she's is assisted by her husband Mark Stuart, but for an extra dollop of nepotism she's added her son Kyle Mims on drums. Other assisting musicians include Sheryl Crowe on background vocals on "Kiss Her Goodnight", Mike Daly on lap steel for "Must be Love" and Byron House on bass on for four ditties. Michael Web rounds out the sidefolk on accordion, mandolin, organ, bass, and background vocals.

Unlike her first album, which was spare to the point of having its ribs show, Dancin With Them That Brung Me has some meat on its bones. Perhaps doing 274 dates during 1999 helped Stacey realize that slightly fuller arrangements better serve the songs. While eight of the twelve tunes on the album were written by Stacy solo, she included three songs that were written with a partner. One each was co-written by Mark Stuart, Denise Draper and George Ducas. The only "cover" is the opener "Promise You Anything" which was penned by Steve Earle, Maria McKee, and Patrick Suggs.

Stacey is among of group of singers and songwriters who, even though they are fiercely independent, could all be classified the "new primitives". Like Iris Dement or Peter Case, Stacey Earle draw more inspiration from singers and song-styles of the 30's and 40's than any modern influences. Stacey is also part of the new DIY movement of musicians who prefer to produce and distribute their own CDs rather than sign with a major label. I hope the music conglomerates eventually get hip to the fact that there is more to the music business than the big score. Dancin' With Them That Brung You is another victory for art and independence over the SOS.

Enjoyment: 80

Sound: 66