Roll

Roll

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Like countrywoman Kasey Chambers, Australian Anne McCue has brought modern American roots music back toward its source. Resounding with little more than rocking guitar and a tight rhythm section, Roll does just what the title says, cruising along with the sense of swing that distinguishes great rock & roll from its often more leaden relative, rock. Perhaps in tribute to McCue's staunchest supporter, the Lucinda Williams-styled "I Want You Back" opens the proceedings. Two tracks down the road comes the even better "Stupid," an infectious warning against listening too hard to others opinions, a track that is destined to be a mainstay of AAA radio. This is as varied, insightful, melodic, and just plain listenable a collection of compositions as you are likely to hear in 2004--expect coverage by other artists. Though assaying a Hendrix tune ("Machine Gun") at this stage of her technical development might be hubris, her guitar work in general is unfailingly interesting, appropriate, and tonally luxurious. Anne McCue is definitely one to watch. --Michael Ross

About the Artist
When Anne McCue proclaims, "I’ve gotta roll" on the title track from her Messenger Records debut, Roll, her urgency and conviction are telling: here is an artist who has been on an extraordinary journey and lived to tell the tale.

McCue’s musical path commenced during her childhood in Sydney, Australia. The last of eight children born to a milkman and a nurse, she absorbed the runoff of the inevitably diverse musical tastes of her huge family. Naturally the Beatles rated, but she also fell for French composer Eric Satie and crooner of the dark side, Nick Cave. Although an immediate and profound element in her upbringing, music trailed on her career choice list (behind novelist, film maker and marathon runner), and eventually she graduated from the Sydney University of Technology with a degree in Film Production and Film Studies.

She commenced recording her solo debut, Amazing Ordinary Things, at Tim Finn’s (Crowded House) Periscope Studios. Before the album was complete, McCue joined Eden a.k.a., an acoustic rock band signed to Columbia Records. They were brought to the U.S. to record and tour, including stints on the 1998 and 1999 Lilith Fair. When that ended, McCue stayed in L.A. and leapt back into completing Amazing Ordinary Things, which eventually was released in Canada and most recently in Japan.

While touring to back up the album, McCue wowed crowds and acquired fans in high places. She played constantly including shows with Dave Alvin, Richard Thompson, and Lucinda Williams, who would become her biggest champion. Williams took McCue on the road throughout 2002, praised her at every chance referring to her as "my new favorite artist...and an amazing guitarist", and honored her with inclusion on the Lucinda Williams: Artist’s Choice compilation CD, in the esteemed company of John Coltrane, Leonard Cohen, Patty Griffin, Paul Westerberg, and Ryan Adams.

The spirit continues with Roll. Produced by McCue and bassist Dusty Wakeman (Lucinda, Dwight Yoakam) at Mad Dog Studios in Burbank, Roll is McCue fortified by a rock solid Texan rhythm section of Wakeman and drummer Dave Raven. "The whole idea was to get back to a three-piece band in the studio," McCue explains, citing such favorite trios as the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream, The Police, and The Jam. "I like that people triangle, and I wanted to record like that: guitar-bass-drums. That way we get as much of a live feel as possible. Later we overdubbed some B3, accordion and guitars where necessary."

The songs are accordingly plain- spoken and open-ended; she writes unencumbered by static statements or formats, and with a fluid grace—even her most personal and specific words wrap well around a hundred different situations.

Roll,Anne McCue,Messenger Records,Adult Alternative Pop/Rock,American Trad Rock,Lucinda Williams says "Anne is my new favorite artist and an amazing guitarist.",Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

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