Mandy Rowden
1000 Miles
Reviewed by Tim Stegall, Fri., Oct. 21, 2016
Local alt.country songstress Mandy Rowden ignites a pounding, mid-tempo groover called "Let Me In" at 1000 Miles' start. Its bed of guitars set a tone ranging from "raunchy-yet-well-mannered" to "maximum twang," manned in part by Austin's great Alan Durham, who provides a perfect cushion for Rowden's dusky alto and scalpel-sharp pen – aimed here at delivering a post-mortem for a damaged relationship. The tempo varies across the disc's length and breadth, as does the mood, but 1000 Miles sticks close to said game plan. Aptly, Rowden excels at this, and shows potential to transcend the niche and possibly cross over into wider recognition. She even mixes country soul stirrings into "Amazing Grace," which isn't the hymn of renown, despite a few lyrical references woven in. An Americana Sheryl Crow? Mandy Rowden has the talent, chops, and charisma to go there.
