--Upon first hearing the new release "Origin Story" from Idgy Vaughn, my first reaction was "What the Heck?" The vocals seemed to careen wildly and very close to being sharp and flat, or at least that's what I thought. Then I realized that what I was hearing was what used to be called, "Country Music". She doesn't sing flat or sharp and the reason for the initial reaction was that for years now, I have been receiving new cd's from record labels that all claim to be "Country" and what they really were was light weight, non original, candy striped copies of 80's pop. What I was hearing
on Vaughn's release was a new kind of retro gutsy realism that is so far removed from todays cookie cutter froth that it takes a minute to figure it out. After listening further, I realized that there was a lot going on here, both in the material being presented and the production in the background.

This is most likely going to be considered one of the banner leaders in the new genre of singers that are honestly trying to put a real and original product out on the market for real people to listen to. The writing is impeccable, biting, scathing, beautiful, and sincere, there is no waste or fluff to wade through. Songs like "Dragging The River" the best ode to bad husband elimination since "Goodbye To Earl" from the Dixie Chicks, and my personal favorite, "Mister Wrong" with attention getting lines like "Our engagement ring turned my finger green and the stone was dimestore glass, my
Daddy wants to hold you while my brothers kick your ass". Now that's country. Kudos have to be given here to the producer, Paul Pearcy. Primarily known as one of the best drummers on the planet earth, Pearcy has worked with some of the biggest names in the business, from Willie Nelson to Terri Hendrix and has made huge strides in the world of producing. From the very subtle to flat out in your face, production on this release is excellent.

Thank goodness I got a glimpse of something that is blending new age talent with a respect to the purity of the ones that brought us to the dance. Just take a look at the picture on the front of this cd and you'll realize like I did that behind those haunting eyes lurks a whole new world of music that is coming at you at gale force and you will finally get a chance to hear what a great experience it is when a top shelf producer takes on an unbridled, earthy beauty like Idgy Vaughn. Check it out at idgyvaughn.com

by Greg Roberts - countrygreg@austin.rr.com

*NOTE: Note not all reviews are posted on-line. Check out the magazine for more....

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