The moment I saw that Holly Golightly had a new album out, I was interested in listening to it. I first became acquainted with Holly Golightly's style and music when she collaborated with The White Stripes. Something about her irreverent sense of humor and her country-influenced type of alternative rock appealed to me. It seemed that this was all confirmed when I heard the first single from the Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs album Medicine County.
"Forget It" starts with a sweeping percussion and organ and introduces Holly's haunting, seductive vocals. It immediately reminded me of the Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds classic "Red Right Hand," and I looked forward to an album of dark, narrative alternative songs with a definite country and Western leaning.
Alternative music has enjoyed a love affair with country and Western music for years. One just has to listen to Johnny Cash's renditions of the massive Nine Inch Nails hit "Hurt" and the Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds track "Mercy Seat" to see how compatible the two genres are. Mazzy Star, Tarnation, Ryan Adams, and Aimee Mann are just some of the artists that have been successful in producing cross-genre music that is often primarily country music but appeals to a wide alternative base.
I mention this simply because I am not one of those people adverse to country and Western music just for the sake of it. In Medicine County, Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs explore the very origins of country and Western music and delve into the numerous subgenres and styles including traditional country, bluegrass, and folk. Holly's fascination with the genre is clear, and I admire her for putting that passion to music and delivering an absolutely authentic sound.
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