Highway queen

"Self-reliance runs through the country genre from the year dot. Nikki Lane, however, is gunning her engine hard ... Mixing country sweetness with rock swagger, Lane's set takes in music biz demographics (700,000 Rednecks) and gambling metaphors (Jackpot), while songs such as Companion and Forever Lasts Forever save a little room for vulnerability".

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"The key to Lane's appeal is that she's not an art-pop vocalist, she's a country singer, keeping her wounded emotions and kicking rhythms in the forefront; the hidden emotions certainly matter but the gut-level impact matters more. That's what gives Highway Queen its edge. As impressionistic as the smeary sounds can be, it's an album that rests on its sturdy songs and Lane's powerful performance, two elements that keep Highway Queen as engaging on repeated listens as it is on its first".

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