Rooster Blackspur - Nashville (The Cinderella Sessions) (2024) Hi-Res

Now based in Nashville, Tennessee Rooster Blackspur, a captivating award-winning Singer-Songwriter, hails from the Alaskan wilderness where her powerful voice emerged at a young age. Like a lightning bolt, she irresistibly captivates audiences, whether in festivals or intimate concert halls. Her lyrics echo the essence of living fearlessly, and, above all, embracing authenticity.
Experience the magnetic force of Rooster Blackspur, where each performance is a journey into the heart of a courageous performer.

An Introduction To A New Songwriter Full of Style and Panache.
Having established herself in New Mexico, the strikingly named Rooster Blackspur has made the move to record in Nashville – and hence the title of this collection that falls somewhere between an EP and an album, consisting as it does of just the seven tracks.

On the opening track, “Kicking Up Dust” the impression is of a voice similar to Lucinda Williams – one imbued with character and a hard life lived, but placed in more of a roadhouse country-rock band setting.
“Hard Road,” which follows, is much mellower in outlook and showcases Blackspur’s husky vocals in a radio-friendly keyboard and harmonica laced Country ballad.

“The Way” which follows (none of the tracks on this release have titles of more than three words!) is similar in tone to the preceding track, but shifts pace back and forth to add dynamics to a tale of relationships and personal mission statements.
“Lonely Angels” drops down a gear and is one of the quieter tracks on the album, something of a ‘power ballad’ which highlights Blackspur’s vocal chops – Bonnie Tyler springs to mind very much on this one.

“New Mexico” is the second song in recent memory of that title (the other being by Dean Owens – but there are probably more).
It’s a homage to a place that the singer is leaving behind, but with affection and love, featuring some nice picked lead acoustic and pedal steel.
”I Saw You” – the longest title on the album – is an uptempo train-beat shuffle covering life, love – and a bit of yodelling.

Final track “Big Dipper” is a personal favourite – reminiscent in feel to Kristina Murray’s “Tell Me”, it’s retro in feel and places Blackspur’s powerful, yet tender voice front and centre.
If I was going to pick a single, it would be this one – in terms of content, its title references the starry constellation aka the Plough and not the ride on Blackpool pleasure beach!

Blackspur has taken a chance on heading away from New Mexico and hitting the tough streets of Nashville, but she’s brought in some top-notch players (Charlie McCoy, Steve Hinson) to add to her trusted sidekick Sammy Mann to bring these recordings to fruition – the release is very much an introduction to her songs and style and as such, it does and excellent job – worth checking out if Lucinda Williams and the like are your cup of tea.