Sara Hamilton

Call My Name (Stag)

Sara Hamilton claims she actually left Austin to become a songwriter. A student at UT, she returned home to Mansfield, Texas, near Dallas, in 2002 with her degree and a desire for a more supportive social structure. It’s a little out of the ordinary, but judging by Hamilton’s Jesse Dayton-produced debut, Call My Name, it’s a plan others might consider. Over the course of eight originals and a couple of covers, she displays a rare talent for singing and writing a wide sweep of country. With a voice that recalls a young Kelly Willis, Hamilton offers up a touch of rockabilly, folk-tinged ballads, and even a couple adult contemporary tracks, all done with uncommon enthusiasm and just enough edge to keep things interesting. Dayton’s deft touch allows the young vocalist some impressive musical backdrops created by friends like Redd Volkaert, Riley Osbourn, and Tom Lewis. From stomping set opener “Better Than I Used to Be” to the torrid blues of “Lord Help My Soul” and an old-timey duet with Dayton on Memphis Minnie’s “Ain’t No Use Tryin’ to Tell on Me,” Hamilton has created one of the best debuts out of Texas this year.

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This article appears in July 1 • 2005.

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