Old Habits are Hard to Break is the latest effort by Howard Salmon and Deborah Martin-Lemmon, and it represents an album that is continually hooky and infectious. Take Me Down is a current take on the halcyon days of nineties countries. The lively arrangement of the track allows for a walking bass line, dual vocals, and strings to push each other to a higher plateau. One of these Days slows things up, allowing for a more traditional (Johnny Cash) type of feel to dominate. The Message may be five minutes, but there is more than enough meat on the song’s bones. The narrative fullness of this cut separates it from an already-solid opening. Salmon and Martin-Lemmon are able to take on the most disparate set of country influences, restoring their previous luster and contributing greatly to their catalog.
Old Habits are Hard to Break creates a timeless bit of Americana, resounding loudly before Deborah’s vocals begin. The production allows this track to be utterly at home in the seventies and eighties, while Salmon and Martin-Lemmon’s skill make this a song that any fan of music will be able to appreciate. Old Habits are Hard to Break is a solid album through the end, with the final two tracks (Travelin’ Tune and Let’s Just Call It A Night) placing an emphatic exclamation point on a solid album.
Old Habits are Hard to Break can be purchased on the band’s CD Baby (http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/deborahmartinlemmon); visit the act’s website for more information about live dates and new music.
Top Tracks: Take Me Down (To The Waters Edge), Old Habits are Hard to Break
Rating: 8.5/10
Howard Salmon and Deborah Martin-Lemmon Old Habits are Hard to Break CD Review / 2013 Self / 11 Tracks / http://dreamingedge.com/
John Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the founder and editor-in-chief of NeuFutur Magazine, where he has covered independent music, PC hardware, consumer tech, and gaming culture since 1998. With over 25 years of continuous digital publishing experience, he has written thousands of hands-on game and record reviews, conducted in-depth hardware field testing, and analyzed digital media monetization trends. His work prioritizes first-hand evaluation and long-term product testing.
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