While mainstream country continues to ignore its roots, a number of "alternative" acts purposely seek them out. Katy Moffatt's Cowboy Girl is a superior example. She decided to record a number of western songs on Cowboy Girl, both traditional and contemporary, classics and little known gems. "Black Diamond" starts things quietly, with sparse accompaniment and a restrained, affecting vocal. She's joined by guitarists David Wilkie and Rich O'Brien, and bassist Mary Stribling, providing a simple, tasteful backdrop for songs like "Midnight the Unconquered Outlaw" and "Ol' Bill Miner (The Gentleman Bandit)." For the most part this is a calm, low-key effort that matches the dusty, bare plains of the West. An exceptional version of John Phillips' "Me and My Uncle" gives the song a new life, freeing it from some 500 Grateful Dead performances. Wilkie joins Moffatt for a lovely duet on "Magdalena and the Jack of Spades," a minor-key effort that more than lives up to its evocative title. Cowboy Girl will grow on listeners as it gently introduces western geography through its 15 songs. It's also nice that she chose to include modern material, showcasing writers like Joe Ely and Tom Russell. The only false note rings on the over-familiar "John Hardy," with Moffatt's boisterous vocal overpowering the lyrics and the band. It is perhaps ironic that artists who sing within the tradition are labeled alternative, because Cowboy Girl is the real thing. Cowboys and cowgirls alike will enjoy this one.
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