Jesse Dayton & Brennen Leigh Reviewed

Jesse Dayton & Brennen Leigh

Male-female duets in country music include such legendary pairings as George and Tammy, Conway and Loretta, June and Johnny, and Porter and Dolly, no last names necessary, thank you. Some day we might add Jesse and Brennen to the list. There's no denying that separately Dayton's, and Leigh's voices possess a twangy edge ideal for singing songs about lust, heartbreak, and old-fashioned romance. Holdin' Our Own features 12 crooners, and while they don't all work, when they do, the results are country heaven. To their credit, Dayton and Leigh composed most of the tunes, and nearly flawless are the randy title track and shimmering "We Hung the Moon." Meanwhile, Leigh's youthful exuberance sparkles as she plays Carter to Dayton's Cash on "Long Legged Guitar Pickin' Man," one of the disc's few covers. They even take a stab at bluegrass, Leigh's forte, on fiery ramble "Somethin' Somebody Said." As good as the legends? Not yet, but Holdin' Our Own is a dandy first attempt.