‘The Hardest Truth’ is the latest five track E.P. from PENNY NEY which follows on from two well received singles. Penny is a Texas based country musician, and the tracks on this E.P. were composed and written by herself. All five tracks fall within the various sections that make up the country music genre, although, refreshingly, her band employ instruments such as harmonica and trumpet, which adds to the all round experience.
The opening track, ‘Lonely Street’ is an upbeat country song, on which the accordion features prominently. The lyrics follow one of the classic country themes, that of loss and loneliness: -
“There’s a place inside Lonely Street, where hungry people come to meet.” What makes this stand above a lot of other modern country tracks is the vocal sincerity that goes with it, when Penny talks about “Sad, sad lives” having “another half-hearted try” you can feel the connection.
Following on from this, ‘Empty Arms Win’ is another track with very much the same theme, but delivered in a honky tonk style with plinky plonk keyboards very noticeable. The lyrics here are direct and to the point, sung from the view of one of life’s losers: - “I know we both settled for less, and there’s always gonna be the next best/ Go into town and take a look around, and let my empty arms in.”
‘Love Is The Diamond’ gives another perspective, a classic country song with steel guitar present, here Penny’s lyrics suit the music perfectly and her slightly husky voice rises to the challenge: - “She woke up to another cold and dreary day. The man she loves is so far away/ She stokes a fire to keep out the cold. Her love is the diamond pressed from that coal.”
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After this, follows one of those songs about cheating, which have inspired so many songwriters over the years. ‘Houston In Your Rearview Mirror’, is a deceptively fine track with an upbeat tempo that is at odds with the subject matter, of someone waiting in vain for her man, not knowing that he’s a serial cheat: - “I love you and I miss you is what you said, So I waited with the phone by my bed.” Such devotion doesn’t really bring any rewards, as her friend points out: “The office he went to check is a P.O. Box instead/ When you drove off to work it was to sleep in your wife’s bed.” Quite a sting in the tail.
Penny saves the best until last on this E.P. with the storming ‘Saturday Night’, a rocking tune that features some great blues harp courtesy of Fabrizio Pozzi: “Saturday night and I’m sittin’ at home again/ Feelin’ like somethin’ good is just around the bend/ Should I go out? Should I stay in? Take my money and go Gamblin’/ Saturday night and I’m sitting at home again.”
Whilst a lot of the subject matter was similar, or had similar roots, Penny has a refreshing view to writing, and isn’t afraid to show that she can perform a variety of songs really well. Hopefully, this promising EP will increase her fan base and popularity in the not too distant.
Penny Ney online
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