Performances are spirited, songs are catchy, and the good-time vibe is unavoidable throughout
Trick Pony
's sophomore release. What distinguishes this trio from their colleagues on the
Music City
assembly line are the rough edges they leave in their vocals. Even on their tightest harmonies they project a spontaneity that feels far more genuine than cultivated. The material, most of which is their own, provides plenty of catchy hooks and down-home wordplay, though none of it leaves much of an aftertaste.
Willie Nelson
makes a predictably informal appearance in a cover of his old
"Whiskey River"
hit; its thrown-together quality feels pretty much like everything
Nelson
has done these past several decades. ~ Robert L. Doerschuk