Press

http://www.newsandstar.co.uk - 23rd October 2008

A SLICE OF AMERICAN PIE

By Meg Jorsh

Somewhere near Wigton, there's a little bubble of America. It's floating around singer-songwriter Steve McCormick, whose new album Lowlights and Footnotes is pure Tennessee country.

Actually, that's not quite true. Recorded at his house in Kirkbride, the 12 songs have elements of 12-bar blues, honky-tonk and old fashioned rock'n'roll.

And his lyrics are a different story entirely - full of poignant, tender humour, they're very British indeed. The first song, Another English Cowboy, sends up the part-time Stetson-wearers of UK Americana.

Still, it would be fair to class this as country and western, a genre unlikely to set the charts alight. Don't let that put you off though - there's plenty here to hold your attention.

His voice may not be the strongest, but his guitar playing is impeccable and every song tells its own little story. Booze, sex and infidelity all make an appearance, seen through the lense of Steve's gentle pessimism.

If Only She Were Lying is a tale of lost love, built around a list of his own flaws. "I wish I could argue, but I know I can't," he croons, his Joe Jackson-style guitar funk peppered with skilful solos.

Other tracks are more upbeat, like the jaunty pop tune I'm Alright, Jack. That Girl Was Gonna Make Me Rich is a bitterly funny song about waiting for his girlfriend's dad to die.

There's plenty of finger-picking and pedal steel, with a Sixties feel tempered by some fairly timeless themes. An interesting record, full of contradictions and well worth a listen.