Nikki Lane – Highway Queen LP

Description

Nikki Lane‘s 2014 album for New West Records was a splashy affair, coming with an endorsement fromDan Auerbach, the leader ofthe Black Keys, who produced the album. As excellent asAll 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 withAuerbach, suggesting thatLanemay be a hipster roots act.Highway Queen,Lane‘s 2017 sequel co-produced byLaneandJonathan Tyler, dismisses any of these notions, thanks to its stripped-down noir-ish production. Alternating between immediacy and mud,Highway Queenhas a distinct, dusky vibe that’s alluring, drawing listeners into its hidden recesses.Lanefavors 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 withNeko Case, assaying moody journeys into the dark corners of the soul. The key toLane‘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 givesHighway Queenits edge. As impressionistic as the smeary sounds can be, it’s an album that rests on its sturdy songs andLane‘s powerful performance, two elements that keepHighway Queenas engaging on repeated listens as it is on its first. -All Music Guide