Sunny Sweeney – Heartbreaker’s Hall Of Fame

Not many debut discs sound this confident, poised, and excited. Sweeney is a Texas honky-tonk singer who aspires to a contemporary Grand Ole Opry of her own mind — one which includes Jim Lauderdale, the Dixie Chicks and Iris DeMent (all of whom she covers here). Her three originals are focused, if slightly less catchy. But it’s her vocals that’ll catch you by the throat. Sweeney delivers quiet contemplation on her own “Slow Swinging Western Tunes”; manic imagination on “If I Could”; stolid heartbreak with harmony vocalist Lauderdale on “Lavender Blue”; and warm nostalgia on DeMent’s “Mama’s Opry”.