Ms. Holly Golightly is by no means a newbie to playing music. She may not be the most popular girl on the block, but let’s face it, most of those girls aren’t nearly as interesting. She’s been around since the early ‘90s and is quite illustrious in the British rock ‘n roll scene.

She has been in a variety of bands, released solo work, and collaborated with numerous musical acts such as The White Stripes and The Greenhornes (definitely check out the Broken Flowers soundtrack if you haven’t already — she has two fantastic songs featured). Having released somewhere close to 30 albums, needless to say, Golightly has built quite the repertoire for herself.

Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs, Holly’s project with band mate Lawyer Dave, has been in the works since the mid 2000’s and has yet to find a stopping point. Sunday Run Me Over is the country duo’s sixth release together and this time they recorded it from a self-built sound studio from the comfort of their own backyard. The two live together on a farm right outside of Athens, Ga.

“Having the freedom to do it at your own pace allows you to make music that sounds unhurried,” she said on her website. “We really did give this one our undivided attention, and I really think that does show. We worked really hard on it — not that we haven’t worked hard on others, but on this one, we wouldn’t stop working on something until we were a hundred per cent happy with it before moving on.”

In addition to renting in “some pretty fancy equipment,” Golightly really chalks up the success of the record to home recording. I think I agree with her on this one just because you can hear the relaxed attitude of the album while they are simultaneously giving it their all. With the undeniable talent and connection the two seem to have plus the more laid back recording environment, this record is as solid as can be. I’d most certainly recommend it to anyone seeking a traditional country record with a kick.

This album is snappy but has a cohesive flow that speeds up and slows down appropriately. It’s a bit off-kilter at times (specifically, the waltzy “One For the Road”), but that seems to be their thing. However, and most notably, there is this unrestrained, sassy, sharp quality that the record achieves. And it’s just damn delightful.

The opening track “Goddamn Holy Roll” is a foot stomping number that’s essentially celebrating not going to church anymore. The opening lyrics are “Sunday run me over with that goddamn holy roll” followed by lots of woo-hoos; thus, providing a home for the title of the album. Another stand out track with a bit of obvious religious commentary is a pretty ingenious rewrite of the old country staple “We Need a Whole Lot More of Jesus.” The original version claims we need a whole lot more of Jesus and a lot less rock ‘n roll — Holly and Lawyer Dave beg to differ: We need a whole lot less of Jesus/And a lot more rock ‘n roll…We need some good old realization/For the love of God is a joke/We need a whole lot less of Jesus/And a lot more blues ‘n soul.

“I Forgot More” is a great cover of a ‘50s country hit that tells the story of moving on from an old flame by, well, forgetting. What’s great about this is it really shows Holly channel her inner Loretta Lynne and for any Loretta fan, it’ll make you perk up an ear. It’s simple and slow.

Another fantastic cover that Holly and Lawyer Dave provide some extra twist to is “Hard to be Humble,” originally performed by Mac Davis. They open the track with a little Facebook referencing through Holly and Dave talking about updating their statuses to how much they hate one another as a way of highlighting this ballad about shameless narcissism. It’s pretty clever and the lyrics are hilarious. Plus, Dave’s perfectly tuned twang fits the song like a glove.

“This Shit is Gold” really showcases how awkwardly Holly and Dave’s voices match up together. They work, no doubt about it, but in a way that is very unique to their quirk and sound. It also does a nice job of bringing the album full circle.

Overall, simplicity with an edge is definitely the ticket for Sunday Run Me Over. It’s like listening to two really talented country influenced musicians having a blast together and letting things fly naturally; there’s an unquestionable connection between the two musicians that exudes. I’d definitely give this one a whirl.

Holly will be playing at The Fire on 10/10/12.  For more information, visit www.hollygolightly.com.

Caroline Edgeton

Caroline is a North Carolina native who is a newbie to Philadelphia. She is generally seen riding her bike around the city or checking out different restaurants, coffee shops, and music venues. She really enjoys writing, watching movies, reading, going to shows, and cooking.

Follow @carolineedgeton