Angie Heaton & The Gentle Tamers: The Rumor Mill

Angie Heaton should be on the Bloodshot label judging by the country-inspired honky-tonk of the title track, a song which sounds like a cross between Neko Case, Kelly Hogan and Lucinda Williams if supported by Calexico or The Waco Brothers. Heaton nails these songs with aplomb, such as with the roots pop style fuelling “Hide & Seek” which resembles an early, pre-signed Kathleen Edwards. However, Heaton and crew don’t stray or shine as much as they could on these songs. While “Next Year’s Garden” and the gentle, pedal-steel powered “Lucky in Love” don’t diminish the record, they don’t quite lift it to that next level. What does shine though is the warm, cozy and inviting toe-tapper “Train” that perfectly chugs along. The sleeper pick might be a cover of Trembling Blue Stars’ “Sometimes I Still Feel the Bruise” which comes up smelling like roses.