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