The Lovely Rose of Texas

Described as a love letter to her adopted home, the great state of Texas, country chanteuse Whitney Rose fills the gap between her highly lauded debut, the Raul Malo-produced Heartbreaker of the Year, and her next effort, which will reunite her with Malo and his band, the Mavericks. In the meantime, her aptly titled EP South Texas Suite serves as a stirring stand-alone document all on its own, a reverent salute to the south of the border sounds and heartfelt twang so essential to Texas tradition. Rose’s ace studio recruits — the legendary Earl Poole Ball and Redd Volkaert, among then — add authenticity, finesse and flavor, particularly on the Tex Mex-styled album opener, “Three Minute Love Affair,” but so too, there’s not a false note found anywhere. The smooth sway and sashay of “Lookin’ Back on Luckenbach” (clever name, that!) and the purr of pedal steel on “My Boots” make it clear this Canadian expat has found herself a perfect fit in her Austin environs. In truth, there was never any doubt that she would. Possessing a smooth country croon, Rose sounds like she was born to sing these heartland songs, and indeed, when she lets loose on songs such as “Bluebonnets for my Baby” in particular, the soul and sway evoke the spirit of Patsy Cline and the emotional resonance of Loretta Lynn. Rose has made a quick climb to prominence and happily, her journey’s just begun.