Nick Ferrio & His Feelings

Taking time out from his role as a member of both the Burning Hell and Baby Eagle & the Proud Mothers, Peterborough, ON-based Nick Ferrio delivers a solo debut significantly different from the sound of those two fine bands. His forte is hardcore, old school country, with an occasional Flying Burrito Brothers feel, so there's plenty of pedal steel punctuating his original tunes. There's an authentic high'n'lonesome feel to his voice as well, showcased on album highlight "Popular Flower" and "The Trial of Mary Harshbarger," the latter song exploring the real-life case of an American woman who shot her husband during a Newfoundland hunting trip. Ferrio draws upon his travels as a musician on "Free Man, Switzerland" and "Kollnischer Park"; it's a nice change of scenery from all the Texas or Tennessee references common in this genre. The warm sound of the disc reflects the fact that it was recorded on two-inch tape, then mixed by Dan Weston (City and Colour, Daniel Romano). This is an impressive introduction.