Somewhere in my credibility free record collection there is a song called “A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Rock 'n’ Roll”. I wasn’t looking for it but there it was and that, as a very possibly contrived segue, leads me straight on to Kim Martin and her EP “Old Southern Soul”.
Country music isn’t my strong point but, like most things these days, the fiddles have been moved to the background in favour of a four on the floor dancefloor beat tailor made for Friday night beer drinking down whatever counts as the honky tonk these days. Perhaps that is no bad thing as the good old days are long gone and it is to Kim Martin’s credit that she can maintain her blue collar credibility whilst catering for all those city cowboys that probably outnumber those south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Her songs show a lyrical directness too that neatly balances the world today with down home sentimentality and, of course, guns.
Of the songs, “Home Sweet Home” is the one that will likely spend its time on repeat on your tape/8-track/MP3/IPod player in your 2017 model Ford pickup truck. Stylistically, she runs more with Gretchen Wilson than Carrie Underwood with her undeniable energy and straight down the line delivery making me wonder whether this EP is doing more than merely showing that she can compete with the big names.
If you are wanting some sort of off the cuff summary then Kim Martin isn’t air conditioning. She’s more like a breath of country air.
Available from Bandcamp.