CD Review- Joey+Rory- The Life Of A Song

With a made-for-TV kind of twist, husband and wife duo Joey+Rory only started performing as a duo for the audition of CMT’s hit series, Can You Duet, in early 2008-but you’d never know it. Bringing beautiful harmonies, top-notch songwriting plus their natural joyfulness, authenticity and romance to traditional country music, Joey+Rory quickly became fan favorites on the show. As finalists, their rendition of "Cheater Cheater” earned them a huge response and went on to become an internet phenomenon.

Now signed to Vanguard/Sugar Hill Records alongside a venerable roster of alternative country, bluegrass and Americana greats, Joey+Rory’s musical journey together is just beginning with the new release of their first album- The Life Of A Song.

Joey+Rory are authentic country. The couple resides in an 1870’s farmhouse in tiny Hardison Mill, TN, where Joey helps run a nearby family restaurant called Marcy Jo’s Mealhouse. Each song is carefully handpicked and handcrafted and like a comfortable pair of jeans, feels genuine and real. Whether their songs are about cowboy boots, hand-building a home, rodeos or cherished vinyl records, there’s a legitimacy in every word, every note and every song.

It’s ironic that the show that launched the duo had Naomi Judd as a judge. Joey Martin’s voice is the lead vocal on nearly every track on the album and at times, the listener is transformed back to the early 80’s when Naomi and Wynonna Judd were hitting it big with the Judds. It isn’t just song selection, either. Her voice is pleasantly reminiscent of Wynonna’s early in her career. And like the Wynonna, Joey is steadfast in her passion that their music is going to be just that, their music.

“I get tired of hearing that a song is ‘too country’ or ‘too serious,” says Rory. “Let’s stop guessing what people want to hear, and let the fans make up their own minds. I bet we’ll all be surprised what we find out.” Rory’s simple words amplify what you’re about to hear on the album. The listener is luckier for it. “Play The Song” is the first track and it proves out Rory’s words above. The tune shares the duo’s frustration over the music industry’s narrow genre of what sellable country is. Joey+Rory sing a great song, but flip the proverbial bird to those that would be critical. “Why does music have to be so dang PC… so damn PC” go the lyrics.

Joey Martin has a heavenly voice and with “Sweet Emmylou,” Joey shares how her favorite artist Emmylou Harris brought her out of heartbreak. Aubrey Haynie’s superb fiddle skills are the feature on “Cheater, Cheater,” the first single from the record- that has just entered the top 40.

My first listen through, the acoustic ballad “Heart of the Wood,” struck me as a weak link in the album. Interestingly enough, with each further review, it’s become one of my favorites. It’s simply Joey singing with Rory over his guitar playing. It was recorded in one take. The song details Joey and her grandfather sitting in a field of tree stumps on his ranch explaining to her the joy that each tree brought the family. Some were for their home, one was for a guitar for her father. It’s a touching tribute and haunting memorable song.

Producer Carl Jackson and Joey+Rory have created a beautiful album that is one of the best of the year. Whether the album gets play at radio is an entirely different topic (maybe one of concern). I highly recommend The Life Of A Song for any country music lover.