Cowboy Girl
If you believe there is strength in simplicity and subtlety, then Katy Moffatt is a singer for you. The Texas native has been quietly going about her business of putting out beautiful, understated albums for many years, andCowboy Girlis another unassuming gem. Here, she tackles the cowboy song idiom with grace and charm, her gorgeous alto framed with spare acoustic arrangements. As usual, she shows great taste in material, mixing traditional cowboy favorites with a pair of winning original compositions and a group of more-recent songs by folks likeNorman Blake,Tom Russell,Joe Ely,John Phillips(who penned "Me and My Uncle," aGrateful Deadstaple), and her brother Hugh. Moffatt is elegant without sacrificing the spirit of these tunes, accentuating the beauty of the melodies and exploring the blend of realism and romanticism that is unique to the cowboy genre.--Marc Greilsamer