Mary Gauthier - Drag Queens in Limousines (1999)

With strong songwriting and powerful vocals, the alternative country album Drag Queens in Limousines might be a pleasant surprise for some who try to judge it by its unusual title alone. This 1999 sophomore album was recorded by Louisiana native Mary Gauthier. Of course, most of the numbers on this award-winning offering aren't your everyday kind of country. Some of the lyrics have even been called brutally honest. One of the songs, "Karla Faye," is about a Texas death row inmate by that name. Other numbers are simply about the rejects of society and the struggles that most people face at one point or another. Gauthier is a talented singer and completely capable of sharing her emotions through her lyrics. A few songs fans can sample on this album are "Different Kind of Gone," "Our Lady of the Shooting Stars," and "Lucky Stars."