Born to Howl, the Stone Coyotes' third offering, is also their shortest to date -- but it may also be their most polished album. Each song dovetails neatly into the song that follows it, as country pop mixed with hard classic rock melts into the signature Coyote sound.
Barbara Keith, the group's songwriter/chanteuse, combines the vocal stylings of Nancy Wilson, Nancy Sinatra (minus the kitten part of her act) and Dolly Parton, with odd bits of Tanya Tucker thrown in for good measure. Her admiration of Ms. Parton becomes most apparent (obviously) on the band's cover of Parton's smash country hit "Jolene", long a favorite of rock bands. Keith's "Jolene" sounds far less apologetic and supplicating than Parton's own, especially when backed by the steel-riveted power chords of stepson John Tibbles. Nevertheless, Keith perfectly captures Parton's trademark vibrato warble while maintaining her own rocker-chick persona. Her Joan Jett/Chryssie Hynde-like desire to rock like Dr. Spock is the other half of her country side (listen to the probably autobiographical "The First Lady of Rock" if you don't believe me).
The opening of "Torn Asunder" recalls the Stones' "Jumping Jack Flash"; indeed, Keith's debt to the hoary four is evident throughout Born to Howl. She doesn't mind incorporating punk elements into the band's songs, either. If her sunglasses aren't clue enough, the chorus to "American Child" might be a hint: "He's a little bit bored / And a little bit wild / I'm looking for an American child / Give me Jerry Lee Lewis, / Give me Joey Ramone".
As frontwoman and songwriter, Keith dominates the group, but Doug Tibbles' drums and Steven Tibbles' guitar and bass clearly hold their own; the instrumentation is the core of this music, not merely pretty accompaniment.
Stone Coyotes play with the grit, soul and raw intensity of a typical bar band, but their style and lyrics transcend the usual middle-of-the-road talent that the "bar band" tag implies. The band's family-size rock is worthy of anyone's Saturday night dive -- whether it's the Viper Room or the family room.
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