River Under the Road
The debut from this New Mexican singer-songwriter blends a country twang with a folkie's lyrical weight. Buttressed by Austin's heavyweight musical community and Dave Sanger's crisp production, Egge is free to roam through the fields of her New Mexico home with a whispering, crystalline voice reminiscent of her inspiration Shawn Colvin. For whatever reason, Egge seems to thrive in the grittier, rootsier settings: The title track (co-written with Jimmie Dale Gilmore and blues bassist Sarah Brown) offers classic Austin guitar crunch; "Empty Hands" rolls atop Danny Barnes's banjo; Barbara Keith's "The Bramble and the Rose" features pedal-steel tinges from Lucky Oceans; "Made of Iron" has Paul Glasse's delicate mandolin; and Steve James's exquisite "Talco Girl" includes Mississippi John-like fingerpicking. All the while, Egge's melodic gift adds an infectious pop shine.-- Marc Greilsamer