Eleven Hundred Springs

Broken Dreams (Last Beat) Dallas/Fort Worth denizens Eleven Hundred Springs tap into folks like Willie Nelson, Buck Owens, and Doug Sahm for their influences, that’s clear enough. This time around, though, they bring in Kim Pendleton of Dallas outfit Vibrolux and put across five songs that sound more like the better side of the Burrito Brothers than traditional Texas stuff. Lead singer Matt Hillyer even sounds more than a little like Gram Parsons at times, with Pendleton providing a sultry counterpoint. The title track is wrapped around a wash of minor chords and shivery steel guitar, with Hillyer and Pendleton’s harmonies woven together and a rumbling baritone guitar providing the deep twang backing. They even take on John Prine’s winking, weed-friendly chestnut “Illegal Smile” and do it justice. The only gripe? That’d be the fact that there are only five songs here. How about a full-length with Pendleton? The combination works.

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This article appears in May 9 • 2003.

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