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It’s no small mark of distinction when you’re able to enlist superstars like The Mavericks to participate in an early outing. Yet it’s far more impressive when the sound you produce yourself sounds so assured and confident, even the initial time out. That was the case with Canada’s Whitney Rose, whose previous album, somewhat tellingly titled , sounded like a collection of seasoned standards as ageless as something that might have once been wrought by Hank Williams, Kitty Wells or any number of other classic country crooners in their prime. The fact that practically all the songs were written by Rose herself added further credence, but it’s the strength of this follow-up EP South Texas Suite that truly affirms her talent and tenacity.
Described as a love letter to Texas, her recently adopted home, South Texas Suite finds her saluting the south of the border sounds with an appropriate twang and sway. The support crew affirms the music’s aim for authenticity, with the legendary Earl Poole Ball and Redd Volkaert being among those lending support. The Tex Mex-styled album opener, “Three Minute Love Affair,” the smooth sashay of the cleverly-titled “Lookin’ Back on Luckenbach” and the gentle glide of pedal steel on “My Boots” all make it clear this Canadian expat has made herself feel right at home in her new digs. That stands to reason; with her cool country croon, Rose finds a natural fit, and indeed, when she lets loose on “Bluebonnets for my Baby, she sounds like Patsy Cline incarnate, with Loretta Lynn offering an approving nod.
A still blossoming talent with an ageless soul, Whitney Rose is ready to take her place alongside country music’s most accomplished auteurs. And considering the competition, that’s saying quite a bit indeed.
