Highway Queen [LP]

by Nikki Lane

Overview

Nikki Lane's 2014 album for New West Records was a splashy affair, coming with an endorsement from Dan Auerbach, the leader of the Black Keys, who produced the album. As excellent as All or Nothin' was -- and it was a sharp, smart record, walking the fine line separating retro-Americana and modern country -- it was also somewhat hampered by its association with Auerbach, suggesting that Lane may be a hipster roots act. Highway Queen, Lane's 2017 sequel co-produced by Lane and Jonathan Tyler, dismisses any of these notions, thanks to its stripped-down noir-ish production. Alternating between immediacy and mud, Highway Queen has a distinct, dusky vibe that's alluring, drawing listeners into its hidden recesses. Lane favors old-fashioned forms -- there are hints of girl group, honky tonk, rock & roll boogie, and outlaw country percolating beneath the album's surface -- but when the tempo slows down and the vistas stretch out, she holds her own with Neko Case, assaying moody journeys into the dark corners of the soul. The key to Lane's appeal is that she's not an art-pop vocalist, she's a country singer, keeping her wounded emotions and kicking rhythms in the forefront; the hidden emotions certainly matter but the gut-level impact matters more. That's what gives Highway Queen its edge. As impressionistic as the smeary sounds can be, it's an album that rests on its sturdy songs and Lane's powerful performance, two elements that keep Highway Queen as engaging on repeated listens as it is on its first. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	02/17/2017
Label:	New West
UPC:	0607396514410
Rank:	69263

Tracks

1. 700,000 Rednecks
2. Highway Queen
3. Llay You Down
4. Jackpot
5. Companion
6. Big Mouth
7. Foolish Heart
8. Send the Sun
9. Muddy Waters
10. Forever Lasts Forever

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Nikki Lane   Primary Artist,Vocals,Guitar (Rhythm),Vocals (Background)
Kenny Vaughan   Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm),Guitar (Acoustic)
Ian Fitchuk   Piano
Dave Roe   Guitar (Bass)
Russ Pahl   Pedal Steel
Matt Pence   Drums,Percussion
John McTigue   Drums
Collin Dupuis   Percussion
Ben Eyestone   Drums
Ricky Ray Jackson   Pedal Steel,Guitar (Electric)
Eric Whitman   Piano,Guitar (Bass)
Scott Lee   Guitar (Bass)
Jeff Saenz   Guitar (Acoustic)
Joshua Hedley   Fiddle
Taylor Powell   Tambourine
Shelly Colvin   Vocal Harmony,Vocals (Background)
Daniel Creamer   Keyboards,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Alex Munoz   Guitar,Guitar (Baritone)
Jonathan Tyler   Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background)
Ryan Ake   Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm),Guitar (Electric)
Erika Wolf   Vocals (Background)
Steven Cooper   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)

Technical Credits

Greg Calbi   Mastering
Matt Pence   Engineer,Producer
Lee Foster   Executive Producer
Collin Dupuis   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Jeff Hyde   Composer
Kim Buie   A&R
Eden Tyler   Photography
Ryan Tyndell   Composer
Ricardo Alessio   Package Design
Nikki Lane   Composer,Producer
Justin Collins   Assistant Engineer
Wade Ryff   Composer
Jonathan Tyler   Producer
Erica McGillis   Composer