The moment the title song opens ‘Shallow Graves,’ second album by singer/songwriter India Ramey, you get a feeling that you need to utter a cheer – “Go West, girl!” And she definitely does, as an Ennio Morricone style, guitar dominates this excellent, driving track. Elsewhere, it is this and other guitar sounds, like on ‘The Witch’ that embellish the best tracks on this album. But this in no way diminishes the quality of Ramey’s vocals or her songwriting, which is top-notch, particularly on tracks like ‘Keep Hope Alive’. Even when Ramey sticks to some standard country music formats, like on ‘Up To No Good’ excellent, tight musicianship and solid lyrics pull her through.
“Well I’ve been down so bad lately I don’t know what to do / Can’t seem to get away from all the gloom and doom / Every time I read the news, it’s clear we’re all screwed / I’ve been down so bad so tonight I’m up to no good,” goes Ramey on that track. No wonder she describes the music on the album as “post-apocalyptic western.” ‘You and Me Against The World’ just confirms the feeling, underpinned by that spaghetti western guitar. Again.
This time around, India Ramey has come with an album that slowly crawls under your skin.
