Member Since: 5/18/2006
Band Website:
"cometrecords.net
Band Members: Becky :- Vocals, acoustic rhythm/lead guitar.
Jo-Ann :- Vocals, bass guitar.
Brian :- Rhythm/lead guitar, percussion & drum programming
Influences: Crystal Gayle,Celine Dion, Bonnie Raitt, EmmyLou Harris, Suzy Bogguss, Willie Nelson,Lynyrd Skynyrd, J.J.Cale, Ry Cooder, Steve Earle, John Hiatt, Tom Petty etc etc.....
Sounds Like: Album Review From www.maverick-country.com
Country/Roots Magazine
- Album - No Boundaries
- Label - Comet Records
The very best from the UK country music scene deliver the finest album yet of their 15 year career
The Haley Sisters are the great undiscovered natural talent of the UK music scene. They are popular on the moribund British country club circuit where the majority of punters appear to lack any genuine musical taste and seem quite oblivious to these two Yorkshire girls superb vocal talent. Trying to break out of that scene into the more serious listening venues is no easy task, but Jo-Ann and Becky just might make the transition with this quite extraordinary album. In previous albums theyve felt the need to cater for the somewhat myopic line-dance brigade. With NO BOUNDARIES they appear to have stuck two fingers defiantly in the air to their wishes of certain beats-to-the-inch and made a stripped-down acoustic-based album in which the song lyrics are paramount and the vocals are out-front where they should be.
Most of the songs are well-known, but the renditions are as fresh as a cold mountain stream in a heatwave.
They open on a strong note with the Carter Familys Hello Stranger. The vocal give-and-take is magical. Spare backup. Nice slide guitar work that echoes their heartfelt phrases with a pure country delivery. So pure its almost unbelievable. Theres also a fine version of Townes Van Zandts timeless Pancho & Lefty, which owes nothing to the many earlier renditions. A stunning version of Ketty Lesters Love Letters caught me completely left-footed. A highly refreshing and innocently delivered vocal by Becky with much lyrical meaning. Another, at first odd choice, is Randy Newmans Guilty. A strong vocal with a bluesy undertone and stunning guitar work from Beckys husband Brian Smith, this is a worldclass performance. Then theres a lighter interlude with Tom Pettys Thing About You, a highly sensual treatment that is quite irresistible. Ill Be Your San Antone Rose, a country hit for Dottsy exactly 30 years ago, is given a much needed contemporary workout. Jo-Ann takes the lead, their harmonies sent chills through me and some spooky guitar effects by Brian adds much to the fine arrangement. Brian also offers Kirstys Song, which in fact is an instrumental and is mighty good. As is the whole of this quite incredible album that sits up there with finest works of the likes of Emmylou, Suzy Bogguss and Trisha Yearwood. Seek out and enjoy. Youll not be disappointed.
AC (Alan Cackett - Editor)
Record Label: Comet Records
Type of Label: Indie