Terri Hendrix
The Art of Removing Wallpaper
Wilory Records

Promotional material accompanying Terri Hendrix's new CD says she studied opera in college before dripping out to milk goats and pursue music. Now that would make a great song. Not that there's any shortage of appealing tunes on "The Art of Removing Wallpaper," the latest set from Texas singer-songwriter Hendrix. The title refers to peeling away the layers that hide true feelings, and Hendrix shares hers on a variety of subjects with a nudge, a wink and rat-a-tat lyrics. "I'm underpaid, undersexed, overworked, overtaxed, spammed, slammed, wham-bammed, and thank-you ma'am'd," she sings. The quality of Hendrix's writing is high from start to finish, but the most confessional tune is actually one she didn't write but embraces as her own-- LL Cool J's engaging "I Need Love." Hendrix is a folk singer first, but there's a tinge of country thanks to her Texas twang and stellar instrumental accompaniment provided by co-producer Lloyd Maines, father of Dixie Chick Natalie Maines. The versatile Hendrix also borrows from pop, bluegrass, gospel, and R&B, with one cut-- the clever "It's About Time"-- finding a grove reminiscent of the Pointer Sisters. All that's missing is opera.