The 2012 sophomore release from Canadian singer/songwriter Lindi Ortega, Cigarettes & Truckstops, takes inspiration from Ortega’s move to Nashville from Toronto, which allowed her to draw more closely from the origins of many of her influences. While reading a biography on Hank Williams and learning about the man who taught him to play guitar – Rufus Tee-Tot Payne – Ortega started exploring in her own work the influence of blues on country. Cigarettes & Truckstops feels organic and effortless but takes more from the darker side of country music with a collection of songs full of hard living, betrayal, sadness and heartache. Notable tracks include the twangy weeper “Lead Me On”, the grim gospel tune “Heaven Has No Vacancy”, the tormented “Use Me”, the honky tonk romp “The Day You Die”, and the swampy “Murder of Crows.” Cigarettes & Truckstops is a well polished album that displays a maturity rarely found in a young musician. This is definitely one of the best Americana releases of the year. – Written by JFelton
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