[New Release] CAM

CAM

“Untamed”

Label: Sony Music

Genre: Country

A Southern California native who spent time shoveling manure on her grandfather’s horse ranch, Cam - born Camaron Ochs - blends earthy, from-the-heart sentiments and urban pop rhythms on her country music debut, “Untamed.’’

The delicate acoustic strings and intimate vocal delivery of “Burning House,’’ Cam’s Grammy-nominated breakout hit, offer an emotionally piercing counterpoint to the party-all-the-time themes dominating country radio. The 11 songs on “Untamed’’ - all co-written by Cam - suggest she’s pursuing personal revelation more than superficial singalongs.

Producer Jeff Bhasker - who has worked with Kanye West, Bruno Mars, fun. and Taylor Swift - and co-producing protege Tyler Johnson occasionally press too hard to bring a rhythmic thrust to the arrangements, obscuring the power of Cam’s lyrics and delivery.

That said, the clever way old-school sounds mix with modern beats on “Mayday,’’ “Country Ain’t Never Been Pretty’’ and “Half Broke Heart’’ position Cam as a Dolly Parton for the 21st century. AP