Rosie Jones and Zoe Nicol, who together make up Worry Dolls, are that rare thing – songwriters who are genuinely living their lyrics. Go Get Gone‘s title quoting track is the carpe diem song Train’s Leaving which boldly encourages with “forget the doubts still troubling your mind no “what if this” or “what if that” / No coulda bins or coulda haves / Farewell, so long, go get gone”. Get out there, and take life by the scruff of the neck, no regrets, no missed chances. And real life has seen the duo up-sticks from moderate success in London and take their catchy country vocals out to Nashville for a shot at the big time. The resulting album retains a certain Englishness in the vocals, but has also capitalised on the opportunity to polish up the lyrics and the sound by working with a number of experienced co-writers and Nashville based musicians. The result seems likely to appeal to the audience following the likes of The Shires and Ward-Thomas.
Worry Dolls have a fine take on the hard-hearted woman on a pair of songs – Don’t Waste Your Heart On Me puts a brave face on the absence of desire “I wish I could wake and be content by your side / but I just ain’t cut out to be your loving bride” whilst Bless Your Heart is a cheeky take on “good luck – he’s your problem now”. It’s a stomper in the Larkin Poe manner. The piano led She Doesn’t Live Here is a slow ballad with a bit of a Robbie Williams feel to it – which should help to guarantee some radio play. Bold as they have been already the Worry Dolls do have at least one more lesson to learn, and it might be a tough one – sure Zoe Nicol can play the banjo, but it’s hard to believe that Nashville doesn’t hold a better player. It would really lift the tracks that rely on the banjo a significant amount.
Summary
From London to Nashville, the Worry Dolls make a bold claim for mainstream Country success.
