The self titled CD features Miranda Lambert, a young Texas music artist with a voice that is on its way to becoming a major force with which to be reckoned.  The young lady has a strong and true tone, albeit just a bit girlish yet, but shows promise of the strength that could eventually make a great country music presence.  She claims Tammy Wynette as a musical influence, and you can tell she has studied her mentor well . As with several young female Texas music artists trying to get established, Miranda Lambert is really a family affair.  She and father, Rick collaborate quite a bit together in the song writing and acoustic performances.  Mom, Beverly, picks up all kinds of the management pieces, and brother, Luke, is her web master.  She certainly doesn’t lack for family support and involvement, which is great, because every new artist needs mountains of support and encouragement to be successful in the musical journey they set themselves upon.

Lambert actually caught my attention at the Americana Jam 2002 (see review of that production, Americana Jam #3) last summer.  I have kept up with Miranda’s progress since then to see how things played out for her.  I’m happy to report that Lambert is making good progress in her voice, performance presence, and song writing skills.  I have found, though, that the selections of hers that I find most impressive, end up being the collaborative effort with Rick Lambert, her father.  I suspect his supportive, mature undertone in the music is what really gets under my skin and strikes the harmonic chord with my musical soul.  Overall, the music is pleasing and solid honky tonk country.  What makes this CD different is the quirky twists and clever plays with the lyrics’ message.

For instance, my favorite selection is "Texas Pride", actually written by Rick Lambert over 20 years ago.  Rick and Miranda dusted off his rock-solid, rousing honky tonk piece stuffed full of Texas pride(ful) phrases, polished a few lyrics to make it a bit more contemporary, and voila`, a new song was (re)born.

"Jack Daniels", one of Miranda’s originals, is a quick tempo drinking song that uses several clever turns of phrase for some well placed double entendres.  And she sure isn’t shy about borrowing a smidge of melody and lyrics from a country standard to drive home the roots.

Her treatment of "Something That I Like About a Honky Tonk" (another Rick and Miranda co-authorship) is another solid, two-stepping tune that’s not too flashy or complex, just good, traditional country.  I found the lower pitched key particularly suited to the voice I think she will eventually develop.  Try for more of that style, darlin’…it could really work well for you! The only criticism I could scrounge for this selection is that its name is as long as a Texas road!

"Another Heartache" is another easy-on-the-ears, Rick and Miranda collaboration that starts and ends with some great lyrical imagery.

Yes, Miranda Lambert is definitely off to a good start on her musical career.  She’s a very talented young lady with many options for her life’s path.  It is a prayer of mine that she stays on the musical path and grows her craft with the years.  There’s the test of the dedicated musician; are you willing to stick with it when other options glitter in your field of vision?  Time will tell….

In the meantime, treat your ears to bit of a country vacation and pick yourself up a copy of Miranda’s CD.  Her music is available via her website, Miranda Lambert, and Lone Star Music. 

Written by Cheryl Arthur, January 2003

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