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Description
This article, published by Lone Star Music Magazine, profiles the Americana duo Shovels & Rope (Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent) and their album *Swimmin' Time*. The piece highlights the following key aspects of their career and music:
* **Chemistry and Talent:** Jim Lauderdale describes them as talented, charismatic, and deep, noting the perfect balance between Hearst's "vivaciousness" and Trent's "reserved power."
* **Documentary:** Their story is chronicled in a feature-length documentary, *The Ballad of Shovels and Rope*, which was filmed over three years and won the Ground Zero Tennessee Spirit Award.
* **DIY Approach:** Despite their success (like their previous album *O' Be Joyful*), the couple maintains a hands-on approach. *Swimmin' Time* was self-produced and recorded in their Charleston home by Michael Trent. Hearst notes Trent's patience and laser focus make their DIY method work well for them.
* **Musical Influences and Style:**
* The album features a wide "spectrum" of sounds, ranging from tender songs like "Save the World" to foreboding tracks like "Evil" and "Ohio."
* "Evil" and "Ohio" incorporate New Orleans musical heritage and a "funeral march" vibe.
* Influenced by a trip to a Poarch Creek Indian pow wow, they developed an "Indian War Call" vocal style (heard on "Fish Assassin"), where they sing with mouths wide-open and locked-in eyes.
* **Spiritual Themes:** Raised with strong religious upbringing involving "hellfire-and-brimstone" concepts, Hearst and Trent draw on these foundations. Songs like "The Devil Is All Around" explore sin and redemption, but they emphasize that they choose good over evil.
* **Performance:** On stage, they remain physically close ("locked-in on each other"), utilizing a "kinetic charge" of voices that blend well. At the Nelsonville Music Festival, they felt the experience was like a "fever dream."
Overall, the article portrays Shovels & Rope as a duo that balances their rootsy, acoustic sound with creative risks, maintaining their identity while satisfying fans with new, exciting music.
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