Highways and Honky Tonks

Amazon.com
Just when it feels like the end days of hard, imaginative country music are upon us, a release such as this appears and dashes despair. With her first outing for Rounder, Myles has made one of 1998's finest--setting her own standard for country music at millennium's end, writing every song save two classics, and singing all hell out of every line. There's nothing slight, nothing wasted in these 12 songs; the original material is unfailingly strong and effortlessly inventive. Her band--featuring Bob Gothar, Pete Anderson, Marty Rifkin, Gary Brandin, and a propulsive rhythm section--marshals various styles and colors. Shades of progressive bluegrass and Tex-Mex emerge, as well as echoes of Buddy Holly's sound, resulting in taut country rock that nods as often to the Byrds and the Burrito Brothers as to Myles's formative Bakersfield background. --Roy Francis Kasten

No Depression
Myles has created an album of soul and substance that masterfully updates and energized hard-country traditions.

Highways and Honky Tonks

Tracks:

You're Gonna Love Me One Day
Kiss An Angel Good Morning
You've Taken Me Places I Wish I've Never Been
Broken Heart For Sale
True Love
No One Is Gonna Love You Better
Playin' Every Honky Tonk In Town
Mr. Lonesome
Rock At The End Of My Rainbow
Who Did You Call Darlin'
Love Me A Little Bit Longer
I'll Be There If You Ever Want Me

Amazon.com

Just when it feels like the end days of hard, imaginative country music are upon us, a release such as this appears and dashes despair. With her first outing for Rounder, Myles has made one of 1998's finest--setting her own standard for country music at millennium's end, writing every song save two classics, and singing all hell out of every line. There's nothing slight, nothing wasted in these 12 songs; the original material is unfailingly strong and effortlessly inventive. Her band--featuring Bob Gothar, Pete Anderson, Marty Rifkin, Gary Brandin, and a propulsive rhythm section--marshals various styles and colors. Shades of progressive bluegrass and Tex-Mex emerge, as well as echoes of Buddy Holly's sound, resulting in taut country rock that nods as often to the Byrds and the Burrito Brothers as to Myles's formative Bakersfield background. --Roy Francis Kasten

Customer Reviews:

Best kept secret in Country Music.......2007-03-04

Where has Heather Myles been? Why hasn't she been singing on the "country" stations?
We have enjoyed her music...REAL COUNTRY music. She is right up there with Kitty Wells and Loretta!!
Thank goodness there are still real country singers now and then.
I am going to buy more of her CDs. Keep singing country Heather. We love your music.

REAL country.......2006-11-07

Heather Myles, along with Amber Digby, Miss Leslie, and Becky Hobbs, is one of the few real country female singers. This isn't Faith or Shania or any of the other imposters; this is old-fashioned, 100-proof, honky tonk country. This is a great CD, and amazingly, it's her second best; as wonderful as this music is, "Sweet Talk and Good Lies" is even better.

Why no Radio Play?????????.......2006-02-05

I absolutely abhor new "country music"; it lacks any soul, has forgotten its roots, and is completely disposable. And, the problem is not just with the producers and Nashville, as the majority of the performers lack talent as well. But once in awhile, someone comes along to breathe a little life into modern country music. Heather Myles is one of the very few bright spots in today's country scene, and you owe it to yourself to listen to this Cd. Heather has a voice that combines the unabashed sincerity of Loretta Lynn with the vocal stylings of Donna Fargo; throw in a big dose of real Bakersfield Sound, and you have Heather Myles. This CD contains 12 numbers, and every single song is heads above anything you'll hear on today's "country" radio. There are two really fine singles here that deserve the highest praise: "No One is Gonna Love You Better" is a superb duet with none other than Merle Haggard, and "Playing Every Honk Tonk in Town". I will go as far to say that Heather Myles should be placed in the list of the Top 5 female singers to arrive on the country scene in the past 30 years. And after you listen to this album, you'll realize that list doesn't include Shania or Faith. A+++++++

She's good,but................2005-09-10

With all the five star reviews,it looks like the entire extended family chimed in,so! I ain't gonna say anything derogatory just in case you all come lookin' for me,if you get my drift ? I think this lady has enormous talent,and given the time she will be one of the greats. She still has a way to go,and I believe she will wind up with a huge name in the business.

Excellent traditional country, California style.......2005-01-12

Heather, one of many great country singers from California, is a passionate, soulful singer-songwriter who sticks (at least on this album) to a solid, traditional country sound albeit with other influences. Those influences, limited as they are, are from rockabilly and R+B rather than mainstream pop. Heather wrote ten of the twelve songs here, the exceptions being the covers of Kiss an angel good morning (Charley Pride) and I'll be there if you ever want me (Ray Price) - the latter song was also a major country hit for Gail Davies in the eighties.

Heather's own songs are outstanding, including You're gonna love me one day (about a man who doesn't love her - yet), No one is gonna love you better (a duet with Merle Haggard), Mr Lonesome (about a man who isn't very good company) and Who did you call darling (about an unfaithful man).

Pete Anderson, Dwight Yoakam's producer, plays lead guitar on this album, which certainly should appeal to most of Dwight's fans although the music here has less of a rock influence than most of Dwight's albums. As such, this will appeal to those die-hard traditionalists who feel that Dwight is not for them.

Average customer rating:

Brian Burns is the Real Deal

Highways, Heartaches & Honky-Tonks
Brian Burns
Manufacturer: Bandera
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music

General | Country | Styles | Music

Western Swing | Country | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Heavy Weather
Angels & Outlaws
Border Radio
Strikin Matches
Simply Traditional

ASIN: B00003GPR6
Release Date: 1999-11-23

Tracks:

Highways, Heartaches, & Honky Tonks
Lucy & Desi
Montgomery Street (Where Did The Good Ones Go?)
Whiskey-O
If You Don't Believe I Love You (Ask My Wife)
I Don't Live Here Anymore
Mexico In Mind
Little Angel Comes A-Walkin
Commerce & Pearl
Dallas After Midnight
Fire Ants
The Haunted Jukebox

Customer Reviews:

Brian Burns is the Real Deal.......2000-11-17

In this era when what currently passes for country music is what we used to call, well, rock'n'roll, with nary a decent songwriter on the horizon, Brian Burns is the Real Deal. You can hear the influences of Lefty Frizzell, Willie Nelson and the other greats of a bygone era, but with a fresh sound and lyrics. If you love the honkytonk sound that seems to have vanished, stop crying in your beer and get this CD!

Music Album:

Music Album