Tanya Dennis
Apartment #9
Apartment #9 is brilliant, creative, a major label quality recording that features a great selection of traditional country songs that flat out rock. Dennis has a voice that is emotive, pure, throaty and what I like is the attention that she puts to each phrase of each song she sings, each is a bit different ; amazing.
Kudos to Chelsea Studio in Brentwood, Tenn. for making this masterpiece.
Dennis also plays fiddle and mandolin. Tanya has been a player in the country
music world for quite a while. She would much rather sing music that she likes
than be a pawn of a major label. To her credit, Dennis has played in touring
bands for Faith Hill, Janie Fricke and Whisperin Bill Anderson. She has opened
for Reba McEntire and LeAnn Rimes. This is her second solo CD, her first was
called "Waterdance", she wrote the songs and it was a collection of country and
blues material.
Apt.#9 features a very talented studio band that really are in a groove for
the whole album. Two great pedal steel players, one more traditional ,the other
one more on the Dan Dugmore creative side. I have to mention the drummer on this
album, Jerry Kroon, he really is exceptional and made me notice him in the mix.
The tonality, mix, band interaction on this record is uncanny from beginning
to end. This is easily the best quality female, pure country CD that I have received
this year. Unfortunately for Americans, this record is aimed at her huge fan
base in Europe where she tours. So you are going to have to buy it or download
it if you want to enjoy it, won't be on country radio, but that's the way most
good stuff is anymore anyway.
The album opens up with an original upbeat shuffle song called "I Can't Feel A
Thing". Really a good song with Tanya singing like she was live. A song that I
was anxious to hear was "Breakin' It" (Mark Germino), originally on Mindy
McCready's '96 album "Ten Thousand Angels", her best effort. This reviewer
always liked her reading of "Breakin' It", a slow heartbreaker that was one of
the best songs on a good album. Tanya's version is better, a bit slower pace,
similar, but the vocals are just better on the Dennis version, also some killer
pedal steel.
The title track and first single "Apt. #9" (Johnny Paycheck) done by Tammy
Wynette originally, is just great. Tanya does a slow pace with great fiddle and
also some great background vocals. The song is another country heartbreak and
Tanya's vocals are right on the money. "Luxury Liner" (Gram Parsons) is a flat
out country rocker that has some killer electric guitar pickin'.
"Ring Around The Moon" (Johnny Cymbal) lightens up a bit to some acoustic
production with some great mandolin. Tanya's vocals really shine on this beauty
of a song with very poetic lyrics full of beautiful imagery. "98.6 Degrees" (Matraca
Berg) is a great honky tonk shuffle that Tanya just nails the vocals. Some Great
pedal steel. "Love Doesn't Even Know My Name" (Tom Podin) closes out the album.
Tanya's reading of this great song shows a more tender side to her voice. It
also shows what great range she has. By the way, the other six songs are great
too.
In closing, Thank you Tanya for putting out something truly exceptional and
also inspirational, heartfelt and very easy on the ears.
Check out Tanya's music at
www.TanyaDennis.com
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