Cantrell bringt ihre Erfahrung und ihre guten Beziehungen mit ins Studio, ebenso eine ganze Reihe von Musikern, (Ex-dB Will Rigby am Schlagzeug, die New Yorker Gitarristen Jay Sherman-Godfrey und Jon Graboff), zusätzlich Songs von Robert McCreedy (das herzzerreißende "Two Seconds" der Volebeats), von George Usher (Beat Rodeo), Amy Allison und Joe Flood, zu denen dann auch noch drei eigene Melodien hinzukommen. Cantrells Stimme ist ein zartbesaitetes Instrument, umso ergreifender ist sie an einigen Stellen, wie bem Titelsong, bei dem man ständig darum betet, dass diese Stimme nicht zerbrechen möge. Cantrells Name wird vielleicht nie am Grand Ole Opry in Nashville prangen, aber die Bretter, die die Welt bedeuten, werden sich wohl fühlen, wenn sie auf ihnen steht.

Randy Silver, Amazon.de-Redaktion

Laura Cantrell's debut album, Not the Tremblin' Kind, is a mix of originals and covers by little known yet superb songwriters like George Usher, Joe Flood, Amy Allison, and the Volebeats' Bob McCreedy -- resulting in an evocative blend of neo-traditionalist country. As a singer, Cantrell doesn't have the pipes of a someone like Lucinda Williams, but, like Merle Haggard, her clear and simple way with a tale or sentiment leaves the listener hanging on every word. Cantrell's own "Queen of the Coast" tells the story of a female country singer from a bygone era who stands toward the back of a stage while her man basks in the spotlight. (Think Bonnie Owens: The mandolin line even slyly echoes one-time husband Haggard's signature "I Am a Lonesome Fugitive.") The era the song nods to is also expressive of Cantrell's sound, which is of clearly different stock than the high drama of alt-country young lion Neko Case or the good-natured folkyness of predecessor Nanci Griffith. Rather, Cantrell's music echoes a truck-stop jukebox circa the 1950s or '60s and such woman pioneers as Kitty Wells. Also, Cantrell's work as a DJ at famed free-form station WFMU allowed her to cull the finest tracks that crossed her turntable, and her ear for the right tunes to cover is clearly evident. On her heart-piercing take on the Volebeats' "Two Seconds," her plaintive voice is used to excellent effect, driving home the primary sentiment, "Two seconds of your love is all I need of you/two seconds of your time, that's enough to say we're through/two beats of your heart is enough to know we'll never part." Another great cover is Amy Allison's "Whiskey Makes You Sweeter," which Cantrell delivers with the poise of a woman who won't make the same mistake twice -- rather than the sloppy, temporary regret the song might suggest. Solid production by World Famous Blue Jays member Jay Sherman-Godfrey and strong musicianship make this first-class, enduring Americana -- with one foot in the past and an eye towards the future.

(by Erik Hage, AMG)