Tales From Austin Motel
FormerAlbert Collinsguitarist Debbie Davies ventures into the heart of Texas for this album, recorded with Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon ofDouble Trouble. As one might expect, the result has a distinctly Texas sound, though that's been an aspect of Davies's playing anyway. The original material is solid, and the covers--including threeWillie Dixonsongs--are well chosen. Davies's take on "I Just Want to Make Love to You" has been informed by more-recent rock versions of the song but still has the sense of intimacy the song demands, and the closing "Walking by Myself" is appropriately laid-back and low-key. Of the original songs, the strongest is the gender-politics-themed "I'm a Woman," successful because the politics of the lyrics are balanced by an overt sensuality in the music. This one's almost all blues, but Davies keeps things hopping with a variety of feels, tempos, and rhythms, and mixes things up with the south-of-the-border "Atras de Tus Ojos." It's a stronger effort than her recentRound Every Corner, showing the emergence of a distinctive personal style. --Genevieve Williams