Achin' and Shakin' (Mercury Nashville, 2010)
Laura Bell Bundy
Reviewed by Jeff Lincoln
Both halves score highly, mostly thanks to Bundy's flexible voice (think Mindy McCready with more firepower) and the clever wordplay of the songwriting ("I've been through your pockets and smelled your shirts/I don't wear Bath and Bodyworks"). Sometimes the kitchen-sink style can overstep (a whisper rap?), and things get a little too subdued on Please. But Bundy's willingness to try things, like a Sam and Dave horn section and a gospel coda on If You Want My Love, charms.
Most impressive is how the Achin' songs stay thoughtful and heartfelt (Cigarette and Curse the Bed) without delving into self-pity. The song sequencing gimmick is designed to bring an epiphany by the time you get to the kiss-off romp single Giddy On Up. But it's unnecessary - with a multi-threat talent and solid writing, you could put these songs in random order and still have a rising star.
CDs by Laura Bell Bundy
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