CD Review (Today's Country Magazine) - Jan 2010 [Link]

The county music world is filled with people that have made their way through other genres only to find themselves mixed into the umbrella of country music. That same path was the one followed by the Texas Sapphires, whose Rebecca Lucille Cannon, first found success amongst the punk rock world in her band Sincola. It was the love and respect of her late grandmother that led Cannon back to the country music that her grandma first introduced her to. With the idea in place to keep the tradition of country music alive they released their debut album Valley So Steep and quickly earned accolades amongst their peers. With their sophomore effort As He Wanders they continue to keep that traditional country vibe alive and well. Their combination of honky-tonk branded country with influences that see them combining folk, bluegrass, and Americana elements into the mix is going to keep them on the radar of plenty of music fans that like their music "real." They get your boots moving across the Texas dancehall floors as soon as you hit play with "Nashville Moon." They continue to keep you gliding around as you dive through the album with cuts like "190" and "How Did I Get So Sloppy Drunk (When I Was Drinkin' Neat)." Keeping the album diverse, they showcase their bluegrass influences perfectly on "Farmer's Tan," but it is the dueling lead vocals of Cannon and Billy Brent Malkus that is the most enriching part of these songs. Their voices are vastly different, but work together very well and engulf your senses as you listen. This is a very solid sophomore effort and well worth a spin if you are one of those folks that are yearning for that traditional influenced country amongst the mainstream flare of today.