Cathy Croce Reviews

Twang To Spare

You could compare singer/songwriter Cathy Croce to her influences--from Bonnie Raitt to Lyle Lovett, Loretta Lynn to Caveman Shoestore--but then you'd be missing her versatility, her subtle and often twisted brand of country swing by a good mile.

On her debut album, Putting Words In My Mouth (1996), Croce shows a divine lyrical talent, producing vocals on 13 original compositions that are as beautiful as her melodies are lovely. It doesn't hurt that she chose the wizardly Wayne Horvitz as her producer and let his trademark for understatement rule the overall fabric of the album. Working with several close collaborators, Horvitz finds eerie and quirky voices to match Croce’s often humorous lyrics. As sidemen and soloists, Croce's compatriots add dyna- mite to the mix. The kooky, crazy, and playful Croce gets help from Tim Young's fab surf guitar rhythm on "All In My Mind.” On "Lisa", the tender Croce finds poignancy with a polka rhythm and laser-like lyrics that show the singer has insight as well as a gift for rhyme: "Lisa, Lisa, Lisa. You will change your mind. You will be glad he left you, this time. You stand on your porch, searching for remorse.”

The people who inhabit Croce's world of song are wistful but wise, trapped by social conventions but laughing at the absurdity of life. Croce visits with the plain folk of great country lore-contra- dictions personified--in songs like "Smoke Signals" and "Not Nice To You." On the latter song, Croce piles country twang on a traditional two beat progras- sion, but as always it's her lyrics that hook you: "He's nice to your mama, he's nice to your paw. And when he's in trou- Me, he's nice to the law. He's nice to your girlfriends. He's nice to the whole world, but he's not nice to you.” Croce is a Northwest original. She deserves to be heard.

John Atkins--Tacoma City Paper

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