Katy Mae
(Maggadee)
Hailing from that y'allternative hotbed known as Brooklyn, Katy Mae has a leg up on most of its peers thanks to the pure, unfettered authenticity that bleeds through the pores of its material. This five-song EP - a stopgap release to keep fans primed for an upcoming full-length; previously were The Sweetheart Deal and The Lightning and the Sun - offers primo examples of the quartet's agile-but-gritty tunesmithery.
Right from the get-go, with the hard-twang careen of "Two Dollars Late," which suggests a bluesier Drive-By Truckers, the band signals its intention to rawk, and singer/guitarist Phil Doucet's yearning yelp, which is a little bit country/a little bit punk, has never sounded more convincing. Elsewhere, the slow-burn sizzle of "Falls Down," sparked by a subtly insistent thrumming riff, builds to an anthemic climax worthy of some of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers' classic raveups. And the desolate, reverb-soaked desert rock that populates the title track has a malevolent grandeur no fan of Crazy Horse will be able to resist (if you additionally hear echoes Tucson's legendary Sidewinders slithering around just under the sun-baked sand here, pat yourself on the back - and these musicians too).
Katy Mae's obviously soaked in its collective influences; one detects elements of ‘70s Southern rock, ‘80s power pop (esp. the Replacements) and of course post-Uncle Tupelo ‘90s alt-country. But don't think the group can be pinned down too easily, ‘cos as noted above, the songs ring true and aim straight for the heart. That they make all the cute young ladies' asses wanna shake in the process is simply icing on the cake.
Standout Tracks: "You May Already Be A Winner," "Two Dollars Late" FRED MILLS
