River Road or Rail

Album Review

Memphis country roots queen Nancy Apple teams up with country singer/songwriter Rob McNurlin on this pleasing duo set, which finds them strumming guitars, blowing on harmonicas, and singing a set of traditional-sounding originals that makes lots of local and western references, eulogizes Johnny Cash, and even marks the Christmas season. There's also a good cover of "Lost Highway," an appropriate choice that fits in with a batch of songs that sound like they've been around for decades even though they might have been penned shortly before recording. Apple and McNurlin have one of those sweet-and-sour vocal blendings in which neither defers to the other, and the occasional bum note only adds to the sense of integrity. Think Johnny Cash and June Carter, or even John Doe and Exene Cervenka.