Nikki Lane

There's grit and Southern warmth to Nikki Lane's country twang; it's no surprise the South Carolina native cites Waylon Jennings and Loretta Lynn as inspirations. An outlaw on her terms, Lane isn't going against the grain because she crafts a form of country that's reckless and edgy ― the calculated kind network talent programs churn out. No, she opts for high-class, hillbilly sassiness in the vein of Lee Hazlewood's "These Boots Are Made for Walking" (in fact, she'll easily remind you of a young Nancy Sinatra, who immortalized the classic song). Lane rounds up the usual country record ingredients of aching lyrics, pedal steel, bass and drums to form her spaghetti western, train-beat driven adieu ("Gone, Gone, Gone"), dusty waltzes ("Look Away") and country rockers ("Walk of Shame" and opener "Lies"). Walk of Shame's retro-sass is genuine and grounded, offering a sweet blend of old and new while eschewing the overproduced glitz of country radio pop.