(on Gulf Coast Records)

Half Texas, half California, huh? I can relate. That was the first half of my life. Having grown up in California, and then discovering Austin, Texas for my college years, I can understand Lara Price‘s impulse to make some compelling music. She is clearly one of the musicians keeping Austin the vibrant home to new music that it still is. Although they are two very different destinations, together TX and CA can evoke powerful responses—especially in an artist capable of deep observation and precise musicianship. Lara Price is such an artist. Listening to her new album, Half & Half, and you get the feeling that there’s nothing halfway about anything she does.

By the fifth track of the ten track album, you’ll be convinced that there is no genre or subgenre of blues, soul, or rock… or any music, really, that wouldn’t benefit from Price’s gifts. That track in “Rain,” by the way. It’s a searing example of Price’s storytelling ability. She has that uncanny talent for making the song entirely her own. I can’t imagine anyone—past, present, or future—weaving such a mesmerizing spell. Once she grabs your attention, she is in complete control. A half-hour hour after encountering track 5, I was able to judge the rest of the album… just needed to stop pressing “repeat” on “Rain.” The remainder of the songs were just as wonderful, especially a tender and to-the-point “Solitude.”

Musicians (on various tracks): Lara Price (vocals), Kid Andersen (bass, drums/percussion, keys), Matt Burger (guitar), Eric Harrison (bass), Randy Hayes (drums/percussion), Mike Ingber (drums/percussion, guitar, keys), Nick Jay (bass), David Jimenez (guitar), Lisa Leuschner (backup vocals), Dr. Matthew Maldonado (sax), Sue McCracklin (backup vocals), Trevor Nealon (keys), Baxter Robertson (keys), Jaime Lee Curtis Salgado (kitty purr), Mighty Mike Schermer (guitar), Clint Simmons (drums/percussion), Maureen Smith (backup vocals), Endre Tarczy (bass), Chris Tondre (guitar), Mike Zito (guitar).

Producers: Kid Andersen, Lara Price