Justine's Black Threads - Cheap Vacation

If you're a fan of Justine Covault's terrific pop/rock/punk outfit Justine and the Unclean, perhaps you've expressed the thought that she would be a great country singer. She certainly has the perfect voice for country music. And of course her lyrics about heartache and doomed romance translate beautifully to that particular genre. I am happy to report that Justine's Black Threads confirm everything that we suspected. The trio features Covault on vocals and guitar along side Jimmy Scoppa on guitar and Johnny Sciascia on upright bass. Out today on Rum Bar Records, Cheap Vacation is the band's debut EP. The sound is old school '50s/'60s country with really no hint of a modern influence (thank god). The production is really raw and "live", which puts all the focus on Covault's voice & lyrics along with the truly outstanding musicianship of her two band mates. Sometimes people hear the term "alt country" and think of something from 20 years ago. Black Threads are more along the lines of Loretta Lynn or Sun Records era Johnny Cash. But even without punchy guitars and slamming drums (or any drums at all!), this is vintage Justine Covault music. She excels as always at writing relatable songs about lousy boyfriends, love gone bad, and the plight of the brokenhearted. And if you never fully grasped what an exceptional singer she is, you'll get it now. The original songs are terrific. "He Never Reminds Me Of You" is a spirited and scathing kiss-off that you may find yourself dedicating to some of your own exes. "You and Me Against You and Me" is more of a straight bitter pill chronicling the downfall of a relationship that once seemed invincible. This is a timeless theme in country music, and it couldn't be any more in Covault's wheelhouse. Capping off this EP are two truly excellent covers. "Needles And Pins", of course, is the Jackie DeShannon/Searchers classic from the early '60s. The way Black Threads play it, you'd swear it was written to be a country song! This is my favorite version of this song ever done by a band not named the Ramones, and it perfectly fits the tone of the EP. "The Other Side of a Six Pack" is more of a modern classic, originally written and recorded by label mate Tad Overbaugh. I love this rawer, stripped-down version. It's a toe-tapper for sure, and Covault's vocal really taps into the song's darker undercurrents. 

Four songs about heartbreak and one about drinking is pretty much a can't-miss recipe for a great country record. And as far as the ratio of originals to covers goes, I think Justine's Black Threads have it just right. I like a 60/40 mix of new material and creative interpretations of really great songs. These three musicians sound absolutely tremendous together, and Covault really does sound like she was born to play this kind of music. My only complaint about Cheap Vacation is that five tracks of this band is not nearly enough. What a great little EP!



-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/cheap-vacation
https://www.facebook.com/JustinesBlackThreads/
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