A native of Puxsutawney, PA, Alexis Thompson, who currently resides in the Nashville area, boldly claims on her website that her “style (for those who need comparison) is Judy Garland meets Johnny Cash.” This somewhat tongue-in-cheek reference immediately shows she does not believe in artists simply being boiled down to comparisons. Yet, spend some time listening to Oh, Alexis!, and the comparison, while wild, starts to make a peculiar type of sense.
Oh, Alexis’ first single “Strugglin’,” self-released through iTunes, opens with a heavy traditional influence, supplemented by the velvet voice of Alexis Thompson. Delivering on familiar themes, Alexis, with an almost detached vocal interpretation open the song singing, “It was as if you waited 25 years / To taste
the Jack and coke and beer / That had settled on my breath as it slowly left my lips.” Given that two decades is long time to burst with emotion, this appropriate delivery, along with production that manages to invoke tradition without sounding imitative or tired, makes this first release stand out even among more recognizable contemporaries.
I admit to being pleasantly shocked when I discovered Oh, Alexis!, a talented unsigned musician and self-described songwriter/printmaker through Myspace. Since it is unlikely most of you to have heard Oh, Alexis! I encourage you to check out their Myspace page, buy the single at iTunes, and enjoy.
Grade: A
Listen to Strugglin’ at Oh, Alexis! on Myspace (second song down)
iTunes: “Strugglin’”
Great! One of the best reviews I’ve had yet. Thank you SO much. What a great Saturday surprise! :-)
Thanks, and thanks for stopping into Country Universe. It is always a great pleasure for me to come across quality music I have not heard before so it was certainly no problem at all. Looking forward to hearing the album when it comes out; “Strugglin'” is certainly a strong start.
Loving the vocal and the guitar work on this track. Got this stuck on repeat right now.
I’m really enjoying this! I don’t think you can wear out a MySpace site, but I’m trying. Looking forward to the album.
If Taylor Swift can’t wear out a Myspace, you can’t either Ryno. This is a great song, thanks for posting! Has anyone else heard of a western band called Katy Creek Band? They have a great song with a great message called “dig another grave”
Pleasantly shocked is right, and it is a great find, now it’s stuck in my head, which usually annoys me when that happens but not this time.