The Murfreesboro trio Those Darlins are three women — Nikki, Jessi, and Kelley “Darlin” — who all play stringed instruments and all sing, the result sounding more like an indie-rock Carter Family tribute act than the Dixie Chicks. On this debut (?) EP, the band apes old-timey country and rockabilly with gusto, charm, and an utter lack of the self-righteousness that plagues so many (mostly male) alt-country types. Strummy acoustic guitars pour out over rough-and-tumble, slapdash percussion (credited instrument: “belly slaps”), while twangy lead vocals lead into girlishly modern group choruses. There are only three songs here, and every one connects: “Wild One” is their statement of purpose. “Whole Damn Thing” is a proudly literal burst of finger-lickin’ indulgence. And “Snaggletooth Mama” is a sarcastic, exaggerated rendering of their down-home locale. — CH
Grade: A-
Those Darlins play the Hi-Tone Café Sunday, November 30th, with O’Death. Doors open at 9 p.m.; admission is $8.
