It’s hard to say whether ‘The Stand In’, Caitlin Rose’s 2013 full-length, is a country record, a pop record, or something else entirely. It seems to have culled its DNA from a variety of genres, and much of its appeal is in the subtle way it surprises you with versatility.
However you classify it, this is an exceptional record.
To be clear, ‘The Stand In’ sounds nothing like the pop-country records of the moment, personified by acts like Lady Antebellum and Carrie Underwood. Instead, it veers more toward torchy standards, toward R&B, toward genuine singer-songwriter rock music. And just when you think you’ve got her pegged, Rose peels off course into new terrain. There’s a soulful wisdom to her voice. Listen with your eyes closed and you’d never guess that she’s still a few years shy of 30.
Whatever the ingredients, what results is an album full of confident, sophisticated melodies and clever lyrics throughout. It is well-produced. Each song sounds a little different than the last, with each managing to be catchy without pandering. I don’t know if it was my absolute favorite record of 2013, but it may be the one I listened to the most. That’s pretty high praise, no?
‘The Stand In’ manages to sound familiar while still defying easy categorization . . . and that’s one of the things I like best about it.
Highly recommended.
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