Neon Cowgirl sees Tami Neilson chase every dream, embrace every moment, and find her way back to where it all started.
Following up her previous album, “Kingmaker”, Tami Neilson is taking her country-soaked talent one step further on her impressive new release “Neon Cowgirl”. It’s perhaps undeniable that downtown Nashville is the heart of the country scene, or at least the liveliest one around. “Towering over Broadway like the patron saint of heartbreak… the Neon Cowgirl smiles coyly over her shoulder in red cowboy boots,” Neilson explains. This album is, in fact, a love letter to the cowgirl who watched her grow up,
If you’ve never heard of Tami before, ‘Foolish Heart’ is a phenomenal introduction to her powerhouse vocals, kicking off the album with a burst into the vintage vibe that Neilson has become known for. As the album progresses, it does not take long for the realisation to hit that Neilson has to be one of the most powerful vocalists making their place in the ever-growing world of country music.
The barn-burner album highlight ‘Borrow My Boots’ is a full-send dive into the fun of country music – a track backed by some catchy banjo picking, fiery electric guitar, and a loose groove, it shines as bright as the neon cowgirl herself. It features country queens Ashley McBryde, Grace Bowers, and Shelly Fairchild, making this one nothing less than a certified anthem. Followed up by the sultry, hot track ‘Love Someone’, the album doesn’t turn the heat down for a second.
A track like ‘You’re Gonna Fall’ steps into the cinematic Western territory, and whilst the backing vocals won’t appeal to everyone, the addition of JD McPherson makes for a clever duet with a strong impact. ‘Heartbreak City, USA’ packs a similar punch with twangy guitar solos and lyrics that bring up memories of the music and artists that have inspired Neilson. It’s her songs like this that lay out the scene of a never-ending night right before your eyes. Transporting her listeners to another place is what Neilson does, taking us to where we can “trade our misery for melodies to ease the pain”.
If to be underlined by any sentiment, it’s that Neilson doesn’t do things by halves. It’s the way she’s built her career, from her first glimpse of Nashville’s neon cowgirl to her latest dedication to the glowing girl. “Neon Cowgirl” is full of big sounds and epic sentiments. A brave and bold recognition of the dreams that have built Neilson, this album offers pure escapism to the world of fun, bright lights, and cowboy boots.
