Copper & Coal (CD Baby, 2013)

Leslie Beia and Carra Stasney formed a singing partnership. The CD title refers to their hair color, one a redhead, one a brunette. They make good harmony, but rely on their harmony together a bit much, along the lines of the Bellamy Brothers or, for those who have been around a while, the Davis Sisters of the '50's.

Beia and Stasney had a hand in composing every song except one Dolly Parton number. The songs are good, though none may make the list you remember after a few years.

They packaged their sound with a studio band featuring musicians like Luke Price on the fiddle, Hank Rasco on the piano and Gary Newcomb on the pedal steel and electric guitars. These aren't nationally known musicians, but still good at their trade. The band makes good music, just sometimes a notch below what you would hear from Nashville session artists. Listen to "I Can't Believe I've Fallen," a western swing number, to hear some good instrumental breaks.

"The Whole Damn Bottle" is a good, uptempo dance hall song that breaks the twin vocals model, Stasney and Beia trading vocals before harmonizing on the end of the verses. It includes a spoken interlude and some more good instrumental breaks including some honky-tonk piano from Rasco. "Wandering Eyes, Roving Hands" sounds like another honky-tonk number, but is a slow, broken love song that becomes ponderous by the time it's over. The twinned voices don't work well on this. Heartbreak in pairs doesn't resonate that well.

Parton's "Dagger" is more artfully arranged, and their voices are closer to Parton's than Loretta Lynn or Kitty Wells (comparisons used in their press release). "Dreamin' Ain't Waltzin'" may leave you scratching your head as they waltz with Hank Williams and Gram Parsons to the strains of a Cajun accordion.

Label this CD good. They would be better served next time out by using some songs besides their own and thinking about arrangements that showcase their individual singing abilities and using harmony as a showcase instead of their lead.