Kendel Carson Plays Second Fiddle to No One

July 13, 2009 7:12 am

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Canadian fiddler Kendel Carson grew up both in the prairie fields around her home and on the symphony stage, making her life a fluid weave of country living and music. This feeling is evident in her work, as she combines country and roots music into a fun and passionate production.

Carson’s second album, Alright Dynamite, released on June 23, captures that mood with 14 tracks that range from coy and playful to somber and full of longing. Songwriter Chip Taylor, whose songs have been recorded by artists like Janis Joplin and Waylon Jennings, co-wrote four track on the album and wrote nine others; Taylor, who also also produced Alright Dynamite, previously introduced the world to fiddle player Carrie Rodriguez. The duo have releaesed several albums together.

This was Carson’s first time to participate in the writing process and her sultry, country vibe shows in the lyrics. “I own this record a lot more than my first record,” Carson writes on her MySpace page.

Carson’s debut album, 2007’s Rearview Mirror Tears, was named one of the five best roots albums of the year by Q magazine, and was one of the Top 10 Best Country Albums of the year, according to XM Radio.