Mark Insley
Supermodel
(Rustic)
First Appeared at The Music Box, October 2003, Volume 10, #10
Written by John Metzger
Mark Insley was born in Kansas, bounced around Southern California for
awhile, and wound up living in Tucson. The restlessness of his life creeps
through the five original and four cover tunes on his latest release Supermodel. With lyrics about the heartache of broken relationships as well
as the solitary life of outlaws, prostitutes, and those who wander down the
dusty back roads and side streets of America, it’s no wonder the characters that
inhabit Supermodel turn to alcohol to drown their sorrows, numb their
spirits, and save their souls. Throughout the album, Insley conjures up music
that’s part outlaw country and part classic rock, falling somewhere between
Willie Nelson and Neil Young, with splashes of Bob Dylan, Dave Alvin, the
Grateful Dead, and the Rolling Stones coloring the darkened corners of each
track. In addition, Clare Muldaur adds backing vocals that are nothing short of
stellar, providing the perfect foil for Insley’s world-weary twang. The result
is easy on the ears, but hard on the liver, and his rendition of Johnny
Paycheck’s Pardon Me (I’ve Got Someone to Kill) makes for a downright
chilling conclusion. ½
Supermodel is available from Barnes & Noble.
To order, Click Here!
Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2003 The Music Box