Women of Country - The Internet's #1 Guide to Female Country Music

Album Review

Danni Leigh - Divide and Conquer
Audium Records

Divide and Conquer is Danni Leigh’s third album in just as many record labels. To date Danni’s music career has been a rollercoaster ride. Her debut album on Decca Records was a wild ride through honky-tonk flavored country music. It was a roaring album that rarely slowed down and established Leigh as an artist to watch. Then the label shut down and the promotion behind the album ceased. Shortly after the demise of Decca Danni signed with Monument Records and cut A Shot of Whiskey & a Prayer. The singles released from that album failed to gain any meaningful airplay Monument Records and Danni decided to part ways. The album eventually did make it out the door due to fan support even with Danni no longer with the label. It was another great honky-tonk album that went ignored. The same month that the album released Danni signed with Audium Records and started creating what could be her best work to date.

Danni Leigh is constantly being called the female Dwight Yoakam and it’s very easy to see why. On this release even more so than her others she sounds strikingly similar. The retro honky-tonk sound is one they both do well. For Divide and Conquer Danni worked with Pete Anderson who has been the long time producer and guitarist for Dwight.

The album opens with “He Used To Say That Me” which is very much trademark Leigh and would make a good single. The album jumps all over the place in the realm of traditional country sounds. The ballad “A Far Cry From Here” is extremely well written and features a eerie acoustic guitar and string arrangement. “Sometimes” is a little ditty that belongs in a dark smoke filled bar somewhere. We also get to see Danni push her vocals to the limit on the title track.

By the time you reach the end of Divide and Conquer you know you’ve just heard a true talent. Danni Leigh is one of the strongest up and coming forces in the traditional country music movement. She’ll probably never be able to top the energy of 29 Nights but this album is a much more balanced collection of songs. If you’re a fan of traditional country sounds you owe it to yourself to get a copy of this album as quickly as possible. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for this promising artist.

Album Review by Jeff Krasky

The WOC Rating Scale

The album stands above the rest. This is a record that every country music fan needs to have in their collection.

This album is better than the average release. A strong record with some flaws that keep it from reaching that 5 star level.

This album is an average country release. Doesn't posses qualities that make it stand out among all the other albums out there.

A weak record that lacks solid songs or good vocal performances. Sample before you buy.

This record is a bargin-bin reject that just isn't worth the time or the money. Completely misses the mark.