Is Nancy Sinatra the tree from which all Indie female singers fall from? With Jenny Lewis, Neko Case, Caitlin Rose and now Nikki Lane that seems to be the case. Lane is making her debut on I Am Sound records with Walk of Shame and with that debut she has put herself in the conversation of who is the best new alt-country ingénue on the scene. From Greenville, South Carolina, Lane embodies everything about the reemergence of the twang in alt-country. With a certain amount of reverence to Caitlin Cary, from Whiskeytown, alt-country has seen a sudden female infusion in the past few years.

Nikki Lane with a beautifully haunting vocal over a steel guitar makes it clear that she does not intend to be a flash in the pan. Strong vocals sung with such feeling that one can’t help but feel a bit misty when listening to lyrics like this verse from “Gone, Gone, Gone”:

Nineteen years I’ve been here waiting 
For something good to come my way 
But there are no sign of my luck a'changing 
Even though my dues are surely paid.

With music reminiscent of Patsy Cline or Loretta Lynn and vocals similar to the aforementioned Sinatra or June Carter, Lane deftly maneuvers from ballads like “Come Away Joe” to good ole boy Southern Rock like “I Can’t Be Satisfied.” It is an absolutely brilliantly put together album. From start to finish it’s completely engaging. It’s fun, vicious, heartbreaking and vengeful. I haven’t been this scared yet turned on by a female singer since Alanis Morrissette was giving Uncle Joey head in the theater. Do yourself a favor download this album by any means necessary and when Nikki Lane comes to your town be the first one in line to buy a ticket. You will not be sorry.