You’ve heard of Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound? Dub this “Weed Whacked and Purgatory Stuck”—or something like that. Virginia native but Nashville-based Antone, who clocked TikTok success a while back with a cover of Tyler Childer’s “Lady May,” turned my ears earlier this year with a string of singles in the run-up to Rhinestoned’s release, including the fun “Johnny Moonshine,” cutting “Suburban Outlaw” and sweet “Everybody but You.” She’s outlaw country in spirit if not ethos, and possesses an amber voice that’s as potent as they come.
The frolicsome “Johnny Moonshine,” which finds her crushing on a wannabe, kicks off the 10-track set in fine fashion, while “One Too Many” celebrates the penchant to swear off partying when one wakes to a 10-bell hangover—only to give into temptation by the next weekend. “How’s one too many, but one ain’t enough?” she sings, name-checking Jack, Johnny and Mary Jane along the way. About the only things missing are tips of Hank Jr.’s hat to Jimmy Beam and good Ole Grand Dad. “Everyone But You,” meanwhile, finds her head-over-heels for a special someone who she can’t bring herself to tell. “Mess With Texas,” which follows, is a honky-tonk delight that features her recounting the exes she left behind before arriving in George Strait’s home state.
“High Standards,” on the other hand, is a dramatic slow walk through a smoke-filled night. You know the drill: An offer of weed and wine, though no whites, leaves you willin’ to kill the time with someone you barely know, but an hour or so in you can’t wait to flee. In her case, it’s bad music, misogynistic jokes, and a hand on her knee. “Suburban Outlaw,” a portrait of a poser, slices and dices the wannabe with the precision of a sous chef.
“I Don’t Want to Hear About It” is heartbreak set to song. The single version is an 80-proof, tear-in-my-beer duet with Brendan Walter that leaves you feeling woozy. The solo rendition doubles its punch. Antone’s honeyed rasp bores into the soul and takes up residence forever, just about, though it’s actually less than five minutes. “Was it the withdrawal, or was it my negligence,” she questions. “Was it me? Was it you who needed the fixin’?”
“Me and Jose Cuervo” has the title of a novelty song, but it’s anything but. Likewise, the title track spins the sympathetic story of a “high-class” stoner who’s “busking her ass through the Lone Star State.” It’s the kind of song that, in another era, Emmylou or Linda would’ve covered. The album closes with “Meant to Meet,” a touching song about a relationship gone wrong: “I think we were meant to meet/Not to be.”
All of that is to say this: Rhinestoned is essentially a new spin on old country, when puns and pathos shared space on the same slabs of vinyl. She and her songwriting collaborators (for the full list, read her website bio) have shaped a set that should resonate with most everyone of a certain age or mindset. We all know or knew people like those who populate her tunes—in some instances, they could even be ourselves.
The album is available to stream from all the usual suspects, while LPs and CDs can be purchased from her web store.
The Old Grey Cat 