Cool Alt-country Meanderings
Comparisons to Bob Dylan often occur within the first lines of any review about Tom Ovans, indeed the grrity vocals and meandering tales that the songwriter spins are eerily similar to that of the legend. The Austin singer's 11th album, 'Party Girl' is a slick hour's worth of rough round the edges country with strolling bass and harmonica and riotous alt rock.
Blues slow burner, 'Whiskey Jar' shows off Ovans' gnarly and gruff voice at its best against the smooth and sultry minimalist guitar backing, while 'Sugar Mama' is a chilled country groove with guttural cries of, "Oh sugar mama, how you make me feel". These simmering tunes are all very well, but nothing compared to the aching likes of, 'I'll Be Seeing You' a stirring snippet of anguished melancholy that will have the hairs on the back of your neck raised in no time.
'Hole In My Shoe' is a powerful number, despite its pared down slide guitar backing, Ovans' high and pained vocals are deeply affecting. The lilting country beats of, 'Both Sides of The River' and, 'Rosalie' are juxtaposed with the vibrant guitar warbling of, 'Nobody Knows, a real old school rock classic.
The smoky sounding, 'Somebody Told Me' features angelic vocal howls not dissimilar from Jeff Buckley's against Ovan's gruff cries and a smart blues rhythm, although Ovans' music is a pastiche of plenty of other great songwriters, his style makes for perfect listening and there are some real gems on this album.