Terri Hendrix
The Art of Removing Wallpaper
Wilory

by Rick Allen
2004
Rants & Faves

It took a while to nudge off the fence but by the time nouveau country artist Terri Hendrix gets to her remarkable cover of L.L. Cool J's "I Need Love" (you'd never know it if nobody told you) anyone with a heart is hooked. At times the songs seem somewhat journalistic but as we discover more about Hendrix through these 12 tunes her diary-like accounts draw us in and fan our interest in this candid, good-humored and intelligent singer-songwriter. The songs are deeply personal without being self-indulgent or maudlin. Hendrix is a strong and unaffected singer whose country stylings benefit rather than suffer Shania-like from a rock 'n' roll influence. "Jeannie's Song," "Quiet Me" and the jazz/reggae flavored "One Night Stand"--with its "you think you know me but you don't" message--are among the disc's many rewarding moments.