Pretty Little Poison

Maybe its the gravel in the voice, maybe its the growl when he reaches for the upper registers but Warren Zeiders sings as if its a burden to reveal his emotions. That raw, primal essence can enliven Pretty Little Poison, a debut record thats rooted in tradition enough to feel familiar but designed to seem like a continuation, not a revival. All lean rhythms and sinewy guitars, Pretty Little Poison favors muscle over meditation: even the ballads project strength, not sensitivity. The combination of 70s outlaw, 90s arena country and modern traditionalism has its appeal, particularly on the surface. The intertwining of acoustic, electric and steel guitars crackles, the rhythms are strong but they dont overwhelm. The only thing that pushes too hard is Zeiders himself. Singing from the gut no matter the tempo, Zeiders always seems a hair trigger away from bellowing, a trait that could charitably be called passion but is a bit wearying by the time the album reaches its midpoint. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine