Listen Up: Jamie Lin Wilson – “Just Some Things” (Featuring Wade Bowen)

The old adage goes, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” Apart from their startlingly beautiful harmony, the case of Texas’ country-folk quartet The Trishas might be the exception to the rule.  

Last year, Kelley Mickwee released her lovely ode to Memphis with her solo album You Used to Live Here. Now he have another release from fellow Trisha Jamie Lin Wilson, with Holidays & Wedding Rings. This follow-up to her 2010 release Dirty Blonde Hair is firmly planted in Texas’ Hill Country, both in tone and in the impressive roster of some of Texas’ best songwriters — Jason Eady, Adam Hood, Mike Messick, Dani Flowers, Owen Temple and Wade Bowen. The latter is co-writer with Wilson, and lends his vocals to, “Just Some Things.”

“Just Some Things” rides a waltz tempo, perfectly timed to a flashing motel vacancy sign. Pedal steel softly wails as Wilson’s honeyed timbre casts just the right shade of melancholy. Bowen counters with his weary baritone to fitfully complete this song of second-thoughts and near-misses. 

The intimacy evoked is even more stunning, considering that Wilson and Bowen had just started their songwriting collaboration and friendship. 

“Wade and I were just barely friends when I asked him to write with me,” she says. “I was happily surprised that he said yes. I had this line in my head: ‘just some things you can’t take back,’ and the idea of someone contemplating going down the wrong road. The idea to make it a duet was an afterthought, but I’m so glad we did. I think it takes the song to another place, where both characters have the same struggle. You know, maybe they’re married to each other and in different hotel rooms! The almost cheatin’ song.”   

Pre-oder ‘Holidays & Wedding Rings,’ out May 19. 
Photo by Ari Morales