this week in texas twang #14: Emily Bell

Meet Emily Bell —a  rootsy rock-n-roll songstress who followed her musical aspirations with one sweet-ass rambling voice — now she’s Nancy Sinatra, Austin’s answer to relevant retro. She could’ve been the star act on a ’60s teenage television dance show, singing like a long-forgotten Marvelette. Her double-sided debut (on vinyl no less – available January 31 on iTunes) is quite stark with a fed up cheerfulness. Sexually playful numbers like “Pusher Girl,” and “Back To the Way I Was,” and odes like hey-baby-stay-baby-stay are what the Golden Age of girl group mania was defined by. It’s sentimental here but she also can belt out a deep drawl backed by, at times, bluesy stomp rock and syrupy sweet serenades. From first listen, it’s clear how steeped she is in her parents’ record collection or at least someones, and she sings about as pretty as she looks. Sing-a-longs will happen. Just go with it. (Hand claps included.) Have a listen here.