Shonna Tucker album review: ‘A Tell All’



SHONNA TUCKER & EYE CANDY


“A Tell All”


Kindred spirits: Neko Case, Mary Lou Lord, Drive-By Truckers


Show: Tuesday at Hill Country. Show starts at 8:30 p.m. 202-556-2050. http://ift.tt/1gUFP1C. Free.



Shonna Tucker spent nearly a decade performing and writing songs with the Drive-By Truckers (“I’m Sorry Huston,” “Home Field Advantage”) before splitting to pursue a solo career. As a result, her first solo album, “A Tell All,” doesn’t have the shakiness of some debuts. Tucker displays the ease and consistency of a veteran performer with the help of her band, Eye Candy.


Tucker’s solo work is most immediately different from the Truckers’ in its brightness. Even on its moodier tracks, “A Tell All” has an uptempo pop sheen. Album-opener “Since Jimmy Came” is reminiscent of the warmth and springiness of Mary Lou Lord’s work, while the pouty sass on “I Bought a Pie” is intensified by a super-catchy guitar riff. The seductive twang of “Linda Please” pays homage to Dolly Parton’s pleading on “Jolene,” and “Your Jealousy” sways with a blend of pop and country.





Engineer Rob Bessant checks pipes moving flood water from fields into the River Parrett at Northmoor Green in Somerset, southwest England, on February 6, 2014. Britain was lashed by more heavy rain as firefighters rescued people from flooded homes and Prime Minister David Cameron scrambled to deal with the crisis. Villages in southwest England, have been battling flooding for around five weeks as the government faced a growing tide of criticism for being too slow to aid stricken communities. According to the Environment Agency, as of January 28 65 square kilometres of land has been flooded in the Somerset Levels. AFP PHOTO / CHRIS ISONCHRIS ISON/AFP/Getty Images

Britain flooding, Iceman exhibition, residents flee Central African Republic capital and more.






Details: 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11


See more dates and times



Hill Country



410 Seventh St. NW, Washington, DC 20004



Price: Free


Information: 202-556-2050






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“A Tell All” has a few hokey

moments. “A Family Dinner” (its lyrics inspired the album title) is one of the weaker tracks but still manages to capture both Tucker’s Alabama roots and the congenial buzz of family get-

togethers. The dreamy “Arielle” nearly dissolves under Tucker’s wispy vocals, which is surprising since the other tender songs — “Old Fashioned” and “Lonely People” — are among the most memorable, showing that Tucker has more tricks up her sleeve beyond her raucous boot-stompers.


— Catherine P. Lewis