AMG Review of West Texas Heaven

Kurt Wolff
All Music Guide

Kimmie Rhodes, may not be so well-known outside of her home state, but she has been recording for the last 15 years, getting attention from European audiences and writing songs that have been recorded by stars like Willie Nelson, Wynonna Judd, and Trisha Yearwood. Rhodes's new album, West Texas Heaven, is a melodic and dreamy, sweet and sad work of dryland, lonesome road beauty. Her voice is folksinger pretty and brings to mind Nanci Griffith and Iris Dement, but she tastefully avoids the cute and quaint in her writing and subtle arrangements. Highlights are a series of duets with Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Townes Van Zandt (who delivers one of his best vocal performances in years).