k.d. lang
Reintarnation
(Rhino/Warner)
The title alludes to k.d. lang's early attention-getting claim to being the reincarnation of Patsy Cline.
The cover is a playful homage to that of the first Elvis Presley album.
And/or, of course, of The Clash's London Calling.
And taken together, those three reference points pretty much sum up the first of young Kathryn Dawn Lang's career as a rip-snortin' new kind of country gal -- a Patsy for the punks.
It's now been over a decade since Lang abandoned that twangy sound, seemingly for good, in favour of an equally notable career as a torch singer.
This dandy trip down memory lane serves as a reminder that as a vocalist lang was always too big a talent to be slotted into any category, despite happily doing so herself during her honky-tonk-Cyndi-Lauper days.
The best songs -- Trail of Broken Hearts, Nowhere to Stand, Curious Soul Astray -- defy easy categorization, and point to a barely contained major talent in the making.
Not that k.d. lang could ever be contained.
Track Listing:
1. Pay Dirt
2. Don't Let the Stars Get In Your Eyes
3. Big Boned Gal
4. Don't Be A Lemming Polka
5. Curious Soul Astray
6. It's Me
7. Luck In My Eyes
8. Diet of Strange Places
9. Big Big Love
10. Trail of Broken Hearts
11. Nowhere to Stand
12. Friday Dance Promenade
13. Got the Bull By the Horns
14. Angel With A Lariat
15. Pine and Stew
16. Hanky Panky
17. Pullin' Back the Reins
18. Cowgirl Pride
19. Changed My Mind
20. Turn Me Round