29 Nights
From the rousing fiddle intro on the opening "If the Jukebox Took Teardrops" to the rousing fadeout on "Weren't You the One," Leigh's debut disc doesn't miss a beat. Names like Loretta and Tammy are not to be tossed around lightly in country music circles, but this newcomer's fiery delivery and feisty persona draw obvious comparisons. In addition, the songs included on29 Nights, though nearly all new, recall the styles and sounds of an era past--twangy, danceable, frisky, and sincere. The title track is an obvious choice for radio, but the self-chastising "Mixed Up Mess of a Heart" is much more fun. "Touch Me" recalls the longing of Patsy Cline's "Crazy," and "Teardrops, Teardrops" showcases the same vocal droop that Buck Owens turned into a signature. This is country music the way country music should be.- Alexandra Russell