Audiogrind

Kate James and Lost Country are exactly what a traditional country music band should be. They use all of the tools of this style of music to perfection. From weeping steel guitar to twanging guitars and authentic vocals to the perfect drum and bass backing they exude all of the things I love about country music, hard working and honest music. Kate James has a voice that can be enjoyed along side of the best in country. The Lost Country band is highly accomplished and provides that perfect backing a great singer needs. Their skill level is on a par with the best I have heard. It is hard to believe this is their first CD release. All of the songs were penned by Kate, Bill, or as a team. Some of my favorites from the disc include:

"Bring Me Water" opens with the polished chops of guitarist Bill brooks and the flawless steel guitar of Mark Van Allen. Bassist Joe Fleming and drummer Chuck Kelly lock the beat like a fine-tuned machine. From the first notes Kate sings, you know you have something special to listen to. She sings harmony with herself via multi-track recording. Anyone who loves to dance to a country tune will be up and moving to this one. Great guitar solo work by Bill is quickly followed by Mark on steel.

The Latin beat influenced "Fool For You Honey" demonstrates how versatile the band is as they adapt their style to this beat. Kate struts her voice with an authority akin to early Linda Ronstadt. Chuck works the drums to perfection in the background. A nice pair of solos on guitar and steel are featured.

"Holdin' On To Nothin'" initially has a Johnny Cash feel as Kate belts it out in strong voice and develops into a country strut. Bill takes an extended twangy guitar solo.

The title song, "Home Wreaker, Heart Breaker", starts with the snare drum setting a bouncy country beat. The song lets Kate stretch out a bit and even throw a little grrrravel in her vocal turn-arounds. Kate warns, "Be sure your man don't leave the house without his ball and chain". A terrific slippery steel solo is met by a similar guitar follow-up changing it up from fingered to slide.

"My Heart's Been Broken" is a foot-tapping song spinning the tale of a gal who has suffered too many heart breaks in her love life. Kate delivers a stirring performance while Bill shows his stuff with a series of rockabilly influenced guitar solos.

On "Picture Show", Kate is joined on vocals by Bill and Chuck providing backing vocals. Mark fills the gaps with Dobro. The team of Chuck and Joe providing the beat will have you itching to get to the dance floor [I am a terrible dancer and I could see staying on the beat to this one].

The pretty ballad, "Poor Little Fool", shows the range of Kate's voice. The band adds color and texture behind her. Notable is the steel guitar work providing a soft fill throughout.

The country rocking "Treat You Right" features Kate urging her love with sweet suggestions to let her set the mood for love. Two nice solos by steel and then electric guitar augment the song.

If you are hungry for some traditional country at peak performance then Kate James and Lost Country are for you. This CD also grows on you and as your experience grows with the songs you begin to note some of the finer details of the musical talent these players have. From voice to drums they make it seem so effortless that you forget how difficult some of the performance is. Drop by their web site at www.katejames.com and read more about the band. You can pick up their CD here. You will enjoy a real country music treat!
~ steve ekblad audiogrid.com

http://audiogrid.com/kj/

AnnMarie Harrington
TakeCountryBack July 2004

(Hayden's Ferry) Atlanta, Georgia based Kate James and Lost Country are among the newest voices outside of Nashville's commercial mainstream trying to steer the music back to it's country roots and preserve it's rich heritage. Fronted by Kate, Lost Country's other members are Bill Brooks on lead guitar, Chuck Kelly on drums, Joe Fleming on bass and Mark Van Allen on pedal steel.

Homewrecker, Heartbreaker is the band's debut album and while it's overall sound harkens back to the days honky tonk was regularly heard on Top 40 country music stations, the band's members come from diverse musical backgrounds with diverse influences which is what they feel brings their music a fresh sound and perspective. Kate herself was trained in classical music and didn't discover and fall in love with country music until her teens. She met Chuck while both were working on a mutual friend's project, and though they both shared a love of country music and decided to start a country band, neither had any experience playing it. They then met Bill, who'd played blues and jazz for a number of years but had never played country. While trying to fine tune the band, they began looking for a pedal steel player and found Mark, who in turn introduced them to their bassist Joe. According to Kate, she chose to perform country music because "I love the straight forwardness of country. Country doesn't pretend to say something by saying something else. It doesn't tell you that ‘my lover is a bird who has flown away’, it says that ‘my lover packed his bags and left me’. It gets to the heart of the matter without trying to confuse the listener."

Homewrecker, Heartbreaker is packed with classic style honky tonkers like the title track "Homewrecker, Heartbreaker," the shuffling "Lonely Hearts" and "Holding On To Nothing" that features some red hot guitar picking. On others, the band infuses other influences into their honky tonk sound. The opening track, "Bring Me Water" includes a hint of So-Cal country rock, "My Heart's Been Broken" incorporates both rockabilly and Bakersfield guitar licks, while "Picture Show" is a rockabilly shuffle. They turn up the heat by adding jazzy blues to the spunky "Treat You Right" and "Rollin' Hills" has a distinct gospel-bluegrass influence. The Tex-Mex flavored "Fool For You Honey" has a slight retro feel and would fit very comfortably on any Mavericks album. Also on the retro side is the torchy shuffle, "Sing Me To Sleep," and the band goes into full torchy barroom weeper mode with "Poor Little Fool."

Because Kate sings lead vocals, it's natural that people would want to compare her to other traditional female vocalists such as Patsy, Loretta and Tammy to name a few. That would be unfair, because Kate really doesn't sound like any of them. She chose to strike out with a band instead of as a solo performer because she prefers the camaradarie of band members playing their influences off each other and enjoys the harmony vocal aspect a band provides. Says Kate, "Because I am who I am and the guys in the band are who they are, our sound is different from what has been done before. I think it's extremely important to be who you are and not try too much to imitate others. I think that way we can create something that is unique while respecting the people who have come before us." On that level, Kate and Lost Country succeed in doing just that with Heartwrecker, Heartbreaker. Their sound is at once both comfortably familiar yet refreshingly different. Kate proves herself a solid country vocalist and songwriter and Lost Country is a tight, well oiled band that provides strong backing instrumentally and on harmony vocals. Armed with Homewrecker, Heartbreaker Kate and Lost Country show they're more than worthy candidates to help steer country music back to it's roots.

Standout Tracks: "Bring Me Water," "Holding On To Nothing," "My Heart's Been Broken," "Picture Show,' "Poor Little Fool," "Treat You Right"

http://www.takecountryback.com/reviews/kjrev0704.htm

Pete Smith Reviews
from Country Music Round Up (UK)

June 2004
Kate James and Lost Country “Homewrecker, Heartbreaker” (Haydens Ferry). If one listens to the major label artists one would be forgiven for thinking that country has been lost. Here we have a young lady and four backing musicians who have found it! Though all eleven tracks were written by either James or Bill Brooks, the guitarist, the mood and the sound is the sixties, a time when country was country and the top forty was for pop acts. The material is roadhouse country, that is, heart string pullers and two steppers, like “Bring Me Water”, “Lonely Hearts” and “Rollin’ Hills”. I look forward to hearing more, much more, of this outfit. www.haydensferry.com

To obtain copies of “Country Music Round Up” please e-mail John Emptage, owner / editor, countrymusic@lineone.net

From Marc Ringwood
@ TexasTroubadours

Country music has always been revered as one of the truest forms of music. Through the early days of Kitty Wells and Hank Williams to Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash, country music has always stood for something, and made a statement that has stood the test of time. It hasn't been until the last decade where country music has lost sight of its roots, and has essentially crumbled at its base leaving fans of traditional sounds reaching for the Pepto as they surf channels in search of a glimmer of hope that a genre that once stood for something hasn't puffed its last breath.

Those who seek the sounds of old will be disappointed if they're searching for the one artist beneath the Nashvegas skyline who can rekindle the days of old. Sales, and music in the mainstream from Nashville-based fails to live up to the same reputation that once earned it the title as the "Country Music Capital of the World." Those days are gone, and the only thing Nashville is known for is churning out contrived sugar-coated songs that hold about as much value as a three dollar bill.

In looking for a heart that aches, and a woman who bears her soul you have to look to the legends, and in this case just about 900 miles east to Atlanta. That's where you'll discover Kate James and Lost Country. No James isn't the second coming of Loretta Lynn, but there are noticable qualities of James that echo those her predecessors. James' passion for country music goes back to her childhood, and it's those influences that creep into her raw, infectious, old-timey songs that have been assembled in her debut album Homewrecker, Heartbreaker. Will James conform to Glam Girl to gain attention? Not hardly.

Take the eternal soul of Patsy Cline, the rigorous attitude of Loretta Lynn, and the flare of Tanya Tucker, throw them into a melting pot and you'll get an understanding for what James' music promises listeners. From the honky tonkin' "Fool for You Honey" and title track you can envision sawdust covered floors of roadside honky tonks filling up. James' has her share of heartbreakers too with "Holdin' on to Nothin", "Bring Me Water" and "My Heart's Been Broken," that show us that James' herself has found love to be a struggle at times. But as any good musician will tell you a star isn't just made. James is one of the hardest working female singers in the hotbed of Atlanta, and struggling to get your name out there is a challenge even for the best musicians. It won't be long until the confines of Atlanta will find a challenge holding her back. James and lead guitarist Bill Brooks (who shared in songwriting duties with tearjerkers including "Poor Little Fool" and "Lonely Hearts") are the two most solid members of an otherwise remarkable band that also consists of Chuck Kelly, Joe Fleming and Mark Van Allen. If you find that you're holdin' on to nothin', trash that Faith Hill CD, and grab ahold of Homewrecker, Heartbreaker, an album that you'll be able to hold onto and feel good about.

http://www.texastroubadours.com

From CountryFans.net
Kate James - Heartbreaker Homewrecker
Reviewed By: Kathy Coleman

It's inevitable that when a female country singer comes along there will be comparisons to the ladies of country music who've come in the past. Even today, in the age of the country music diva, country music largely remains a man's arena, and unless gals play their "diva" card, it's tough for them to make themselves a niche in the market. Kate James is taking the risk and following in the footsteps of Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette rather than glossing up and going diva, and I couldn't be happier.

James has a warm, full, rich voice that dives in and grabs hold and doesn't let go. Backed by Lost Country, a tight combo consisting of Bill Brooks, Chuck Kelly, Joe Fleming, and Mark Van Allen, James heads down the path blazed by female honky-tonkers of the past and joins ranks with other great ladies of real country music such as Danni Leigh, Heather Myles, and Jill King. These gals don't grace the covers of Cosmo and Vanity Fair, and they don't get played alongside Celine and Britney.

In other words, Kate James sings COUNTRY music. Bare-bones, heartbreakin' country music with a twang and a shuffle and a swing. With such tracks as "Fool For You Honey," "My Heart's Been Broken," "Poor Little Fool," and the tight title track "HomeWrecker, HeartBreaker," James proves herself as solid a country singer as any of the greats, with a delivery as heartfelt as Wynette with as much gusto and gumption as Tanya Tucker.

But she's certainly not derivative. Nope, James has her own soul and her own delivery. With a solid handle on what makes country music real and honest, James gives us a great new sound with a traditional feel that is one-hundred-percent authentic. This gal is one of those folks out there keeping country music from disappearing completely into the morass of mechanized vanillin blandness.

So take a chance on listening to a new voice and a new sound, and you'll really like Kate James and her Lost Country. 'Cause that's country.
http://countryfans.net/reviews/albums/katejames.shtml

From Jim Moulton
Kate James And Lost Country
"HomeWrecker, HeartBreaker"

Listening to Kate and her band is a refreshing experience. James has a great country voice reminiscent of many greats and the music is real country sounding. The material is all original and very good stuff. The stuff good country music is made of.

Her band is excellent, it is nice to see an artist make a record with her own band instead of bringin' in hired guns. Let me introduce Bill Brooks on lead guitar, a super talented country-blues guitarist. On drums, very talented Chuck Kelly. On Bass, Jon Fleming. On pedal steel, an ace player that interacts well with Bill the lead guitar player; Mark Van Allen. Put all this together and you got one good kickin' country band. Put beautiful strawberry blond Kate James out front with her beautiful voice and this just plain works. If you saw the movie, "The Blues Brothers", this band would do well where the boys tried to pull themselves off as the Good Ole Boys and played Rawhide all night.

In 2003, they were voted Atlanta's best country band and it's easy to see why, with their original traditional, rockabilly style.
The songs are great. "Picture Show" is an upbeat rockabilly song with some old timey lyrics. "Poor Little Fool" is a slow ballad that evokes Patsy Cline, this gal really can just flat out sing and has a beautiful voice whether it be a pure voice ballad or an upbeat song with a growl. Some awesome pedal steel on this song and also a great jazzy lead guitar break. Just a great song! "Rollin Hills" is a great country rocker about goin' home to see her lover, some great imagery in the lyrics.

Great, rootsy sounding recording, no gimmicks, just great tonality, great sounding background vocals. The record ends with a western swing number "Treat You Right", the band jams it out as it does on a lot of numbers. I could listen to Bill Brooks play guitar all day. Kate James is for real, great singer and songwriter. This is a real winner.

Jim's Country Reviews
http://www.countryreviews.net

From Roots Music Report
CD: Home Wrecker, Heart Breaker
Label: Hayden’s Ferry
Rating:
Genre: Roots Country

Roots country bands and honkytonks come to mind when listening to this album. Some great country tunes lead by the vocal performance of Kate James. Kate’s singing is superb. She sings a song as good as anybody in the business. This is just damn good country music.

http://www.rootsmusicreport.com/CDreviews/KateJames.php3

Translated from Dutch...
From Alt Country.nl

Kate James and Lost Country were elected to best country band of Atlanta. Their debut CD Home Wrecker Heart Breaker (Haydens Ferry) makes it clear why. Firstly we hear a rhythm section that does exactly what it needs to do; so, not too much . Secondly, guitarist Bill Brooks knows exactly when to twang and when to rock. Just like Mark van Allen can make the pedal steel weep and dance. The there are 11 (own) songs, which mostly sound familiar when you hear those for the second time. But above all the presence of the phenomenal voice of Kate James herself, which can hardly be matched (if at all) by her modern peers singers. James has a strong and clear alt voice, that remains flawless in the up-swings (“=the louder passages”). With now and then a tear, or a little bit southern drawl. But Kate James does not sing only with her voice, but also with her heart. She cries (My heart’s been broken), whines (Holdin’ On to nothing), laughs (Rollin’ Hills) and growls (Treat you right). That what we call ”soul”. Start listening to the way she takes off in Sing me To Sleep. The music on HomeWrecker, HeartBreaker pure and energized honky tonk . Besides the voice of James, the music gets it’s color from the harmony of the electric and the steel guitar. E.g., the way the steel takes over the bluesy guitar solo in Poor Little Fool is beautiful. Comparing is dangerous, but when you mix the torch songs of Patsy Cline with the outlaw country of Merle Haggard and you get something that resembles Kate James and Lost Country. My prediction is that Atlanta will become to small soon for Kate James. When she ignores the exit Nashville, the world will be her working area. Four thoroughbreds, if only for the voice.
(Peer Bataille)
http://www.altcountry.nl/recensies.html#katejames

From About.com
Homewrecker, HeartBreaker
Kate James and Lost Country
Guide Rating -

The Bottom Line
Kate James and Lost Country were voted Atlanta's Best Country Band of the Year 2003. They provide a fresh new sound with a warm traditional feel.

It often happens when a new female country singer comes along that there are comparisons made to the great ladies of the past. These days, with country music-singing women being pushed more and more to the pop-diva side, hard country music remains largely a man's area, and it's hard for the honky-tonk gals to get a foot in the door. Kate James, though, is taking that step and following the likes of Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette. These listening ears couldn't be happier. She's a heartfelt honky-tonkin' lady who belts it out with heart and soul and all that emotion that makes country music COUNTRY.

Kate James belts out hard country with a full, rich voice that grabs hold and doesn't let go. She's backed by Lost Country, a tight combo consisting of Bill Brooks, Chuck Kelly, Joe Fleming, and Mark Van Allen. With them, James blazes down the trail laid by great female honky-tonkers of the past and joins ranks with other great ladies of country music.

Singing such awesome songs as "Holdin' On To Nothin'," "Lonely Hearts," "Picture Show," and the powerful title track "HomeWrecker, HeartBreaker," James proves herself a solid singer, with a delivery as heartfelt as Wynette with as much gusto and gumption as Tanya Tucker.

Kate James is a fresh and delightful new voice. Give it a listen.
-from Kathy Coleman @ About.com
http://countrymusic.about.com/cs/productreviews/gr/blkatejames.htm

HOME WRECKER, HEART BREAKER
Kate James and Lost Country
Hayden’s Ferry

We have been getting some dadburn good records from Hayden’s Ferry. This is another. Kate James has that vocal quality that Patsy Cline had, how she can sing so’s you hear her broken heart but at the same time you can hear the steel underneath the heartache that tells you if the guy that hurt her comes around again, he might get stomped flat. She can do a sweet ballad and she can rare back and rock out. This is not your prettied-up Nashville sound. It was recorded at StumpGrinder Studios and mastered at Rodney Mills Masterhouse and I know I’ve heard of both those places but I can’t remember where they are. Austin maybe? This does sound like the kind of country you’re more likely to hear there than anywhere else. Whatever, Lost Country is Bill Brooks on guitar, Chuck Kelly on drums, Joe Fleming on bass, and Mark Van Allen on that crying pedal steel and Dobro. They ack like they know what they’re up to too. Call 404-627-0424 for booking info.
http://www.nightflying.com/news.html