The Livingroom Legends - Honeymoon
(Baby Possum)
"Lovin' Left," the first track on this husband and wife duo (Mindy and Stephen Stephens) from Grovetown, GA's debut album is a catchy, soft rocker in the finest tradition of The Byrds or Soul Asylum. And if there's a dry eye in the house after hearing the gut-wrenching "Whitney LaRue," then you don't have a heart OR a soul. Fantastic stuff, despite possibly qualifying for the misinterpreted lyrics hall of fame: for the longest time, I thought they were singing, "Rent Me A Room." But before you start wallowing in self pity, put those handkerchiefs away and set those toes a-tappin' to the hard-driving rocker, "Colorado Wind," with a subtle guitar solo that'll have you Roger McGuinn freaks bowing in tribute. If the label had Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers name on it, this'd be a million-selling, number one hit single.
The soaring harmonies and swaying melody of "Fool" should be the benchmark for husband-wife duets for years to come. Hell, it should be required listening before ANY couple start recording. "How Could You?" is vintage New Riders of the Purple Sage dreamily crossed with Sweethearts of the Rodeo-era Byrds, and the Honeymoon just keeps getting better with each passing track. Special attention should be afforded "Another Number," one of my favorite songs of the year and, perhaps, the best song that (Lindsey) Buckingham (Stevie) Nicks never recorded.
Suffice it to say that if you're into gorgeous harmonies, stoney, good-time country-rockin' vibes and jingle-jangle mornings, you'll want to join me in anointing Honeymoon as one of the Top 5 albums of the year. Add this to that Desert Island Disc collection that includes the first New Riders of the Purple Sage album, Soul Asylum's Grave Dancers Union, The Traveling Wilburys Volume 1, Dylan's Blood on the Tracks, 5 Chinese Brothers' Singer, Songwriter, Beggerman, Thief, Blue Rodeo's Five Days In May, and your favorite Byrds, Wilco, and Jayhawks albums. It's not only that good, in some cases, it's better.
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