Review- Taylor Hunnicutt: Alabama Sound
It was the end of January before I finally caught up with Taylor Hunnicutt to talk about the release of her first full-length album. She had been dealing with quite a hectic month to say the least. Just before Christmas, she and her husband learned that they would have to move out of the house in which they were living and had hoped to buy. They scrambled to relocate in time to get packed after the holidays for a week in Key West at Mile 0 Fest. Returning from her debut at the huge festival (which she described as “magical”) there was only time for a quick turnaround before heading up to Virginia for a sold-out headlining show which was to be her only scheduled appearance in February. Then began the wait for the appearance of her long-awaited record Alabama Sound on March 22 via 10 Ton Records before she begins a string of dates including support slots and festival stages stretching through October.
Photo by Eric Cain
Taylor is one of those artists that seems to get along well with a wide variety of other artists and they enjoy having her play shows with them. She says she just likes playing with her friends including some other Alabama musicians gaining national popularity. The Red Clay Strays from Mobile are red-hot right now and Hunnicutt has a long history of shows with them. Taylor was delighted when they asked her to open the 3rd night of their run at the Ryman Auditorium. That show sold out in 18 minutes. Recently, she was announced as the opener for the Strays show at Cain’s Ballroom which also quickly sold out.
At some point during her show Taylor will ask the crowd if they are ready for some “Alabama music” which is the perfect description for what she does. Demopolis is in west-central Alabama between Meridian, Mississippi, and Selma at the confluence of the Black Warrior and Tombigbee Rivers. It is steeped in Alabama history, famous for its stately old homes and beautiful white bluffs along the riverbank. This is where Taylor started out before making her way to Birmingham, where she fit right in with the local scene paying her music career dues. She also began the transition from a singer/songwriter to a bandleader.
The songs on Alabama Sound showcase the many sides to Taylor Hunnicutt’s magnificent voice with some excellent tunes all from Alabama writers. The Alabama roots run deep with producer Jeremy Stephens, as well. He worked alongside legendary Southern Rock producer Johnny Sandlin for over 20 years. His Clearwave Studio in Decatur is where Taylor and her husband/guitarist Josh McKenzie would gather the band after saving up enough $100 bills for recording time. They knocked out three songs on the first day and the plan immediately upgraded beyond an EP. Of course, that meant finding more money for more time and still further away from a release date. A few singles came out and those gave an early listen to what was being done in the studio. Meanwhile, Taylor and the band kept working out the songs on the road until they could get back to Clearwave.
The first single from the new album was “All or Nothin” - an all-out rocker with a wicked slide guitar and a full-throttle Taylor Hunnicutt vocal. The song gives a nod to the Mercury Lounge in Tulsa where the band has found a welcoming audience. The tune also features one of the best opportunities ever for a crowd chant with the line “pretty in the face but dumb as she can be.” That track was followed by “Trail of a Broken Heart,” another straight-ahead rock n roll song that continued this new direction. Taylor says, “Alabama Sound encapsulated what we were trying to go for. Overall, I wanted it to be like a good transition from Americana singer/songwriter into a more Southern Rock feel.” Her live shows had already added new dimension as Taylor put her take on songs by artists as diverse as The Steel Woods and John Fullbright into the setlist, along with her new originals, and now had the producer to capture this in the studio. The result is ten tracks of one woman’s powerful voice giving life to engaging lyrics, backed by a versatile band, and shaped by a master craftsman into a stunning debut. Alabama Sound represents the entrance of Taylor Hunnicutt and she has kicked the door open. She immediately establishes herself as someone to be heard.
Adam Hood is another member of music’s new “Alabama Gang,” and he has a song featured on the record, and also contributes vocals to “Nobody’s Business.” Taylor has country chops for days and shows them off on “In It For the Pain,” “Losing Streak,” “Saw Blade Hill,” and “Way To Get Out.” The other three songs “Undone,” “Upside Down and Shaken,” and the title track define the “Alabama Sound” of Taylor Hunnicutt: gritty rock n roll kicked by fatback drums, loud, chunky guitar chords and a sultry, growling vocal.
Taylor and the band will be working hard this summer with plenty of festival appearances and high-profile opening slots to get in front of America. Now, she has the record to back it up.
Find out more about Taylor at the links below:
