The Smoking Flowers
2 Guns
Bandaloop/City Hall Records
Street: 08.20
The Smoking Flowers = The Cash Family + Taylor Swift – Billy Ray Cyrus
Nashville musical couple Kim and Scott Collins carry on the tradition of married country music performers such as Johnny and June Carter Cash—one assumes with less rancor, but then again, the stereotype isn’t the most harmonious. Harmony of the vocal variety is a staple of the Collins’ music. “Golden State” is one of the standout tracks on their second release, with its straightforward yet elegant harmonies, as well as the “Spark and Fire” of their musicianship, to borrow the title of the opener. It’s more interesting than the crop of artists on the pop country charts, but that isn’t saying much. For sheer listening—if you enjoy the storytelling lyricizing of the country genre—you could do far worse. –Stakerized!