EP Review: Tara Thompson’s ‘Someone To Take Your Place’

Tara Thompson differs than many female vocalists that have come down the pike as of late. There are no elements of Pop or Folk in her music, and you get the feeling that if you were going to challenge her in a game of Country Music Trivial Pursuit (Is there still such a game?), that she could more than hold her own – perhaps even besting you. In a nutshell, she’s Country. Think Lee Ann Womack with a Gretchen Wilson swagger, and you’re on the right path.

However, as evidenced by the lead track on this EP – and first single, “Someone To Take Your Place,” Tara Thompson is very much her own woman – and musical artist. The song has a definite in-your-face attitude that she sings with such an honesty that you can tell that she’s been there. She balances that with a sympathetic lean toward women who might be in somewhat of a precarious position, such as “Pregnant At The Prom” (though, in this song…precarious is only in the eye of the beholder).

An East Tennessee native, Thompson can also handle a love song quite effectively. “Jail” is a plea for her lover to come at her with every ounce of passion possible, as if he has been locked up for quite some time. It’s a fiery performance that is one of the highlights among the five cuts here.

Thompson best shines when she lets her snarky side show just a bit, as she does on the humorous “Vows” – which would make an interesting music video, and the rollicking “Side Effects,” which deserves a shot at radio. It’s got a natural flow, and Thompson punctuates it with a heavy dash of personality.

I genuinely hope that this isn’t the last we’ve heard of Tara Thompson. It’s great that this format can continually push our boundaries and prove that we are just as “cool” as other formats…..but that being said, every now and then, we need just a little bit of sass and twang. Tara Thompson personifies that. For that matter, she IS that!