'A must have for your 2014 Alternative Country music playlist. Don't miss out on this gem.' - I Am Entertainment Magazine 'Hers is a voice made for country music. Her lyrics are smart and sassy and her music is infectious.' - Seattle Post-Intelligencer 'Within two tracks, this record was already something I wanted to recommend to people.' - AbsolutePunk ?'Talent, charm, edge, humor and a unique voice in a sea of artists who are just trying too hard. Howe is the real deal.' - RockWorldMagazine Be Good is Excellent, RockWorldMagazine.com Heidi Howe has the whole package. Talent, charm, edge, humor and a unique voice in a sea of artists who are just trying too hard. Howe is the real deal. Country, punk and aware of the life she's singing about and not just pretending for the showcase and packaging, this Louisville slugger is a masterful powerhouse of song. Howe's latest record Be Good is a delightful journey through her crafted storytelling. From the hilarious lyrics of "Kind of Crazy" - I needed a stiff drink...in the second grade - to the soothing "Alright," Be Good feels right at every turn and with every track. Yes, Howe's voice is a souped-up-Nancy-Griffith-had-a-baby-with-Siouxsie-and-the-Banshees and you'll be a believer in her music with just a couple of tracks. If you need to know Howe, you need not go further than the wonderful "The Ramones and George Jones." If you're just plain ole nosy, "Ryan Adams Can" will further answer your questions. From head to toe, Be Good is a crazy awesome album from an artist who should be a bona fide musical force and country punk rock star any second. You just wait. Chances are you've already crowned Heidi Howe. Be Good, Examiner.com? When it comes to country music, an album has to be something pretty remarkable for me to touch it. Let's be honest, there is a lot more bad country music out there than good. But the ones that are good tend to be exceedingly good, sometimes brilliant. So when I received Heidi Howe's new full-length album Be Good I admittedly went back and forth on whether or not to review it. Since then, however, I have given it a few listens all the way through, and I'll be damned if these eleven songs don't grow on you. As the opener for Be Good, "Kind of Crazy" gives one a fair idea of what to expect from the rest of the album, with mandolin strumming, fiddle-bowing, drumming that is neither too hard nor too soft, warm backing vocals, and Heidi's signature vocals. Like a lot of country music, the musicians on Heidi's album are ridiculously talented, creating single song structures out of component parts...and outstanding song structures, at that. Guitars, mandolin, pedal steel, fiddle, bass, dobro, keyboards, drums and additional percussion are the elements that make this a true country effort. But what stands out most of all is Heidi Howe's vocals. At first I didn't know if I liked them or not, but she certainly has a way of turning one around. This chick can sing, there is no question; and her high and cute delivery, with the occasional bit of crooning-as it was described by someone on Heidi's Bandcamp page, she has a sort of Cyndi Lauper meets Dolly Parton thing going on-complements the overall sound produced by her backing band. And Heidi's look certainly matches her vocals, but not so much the stereotypical country look. I like hers better, I think, with her short, blond pixie cut, crystal-blue eyes, and fair skin. Throughout Be Good the songs occupy both ends of the country spectrum-lively pickers and slow twangy compositions-with few songs touching the ground in between. And lyrically, as it is with country music, the material deals largely with real life topics, especially love and the loss of love, strength and weakness, coming and going, and of course music. All of these are the sort of topics that people can relate to in one way or another. Considering the music and vocals and the lyrical content, Be Good is decidedly an above-average collection of songs, and one that deserves more than several listens. "I'm Done" is a catchy little song, albeit on the more mainstream side of country music, with strumming as clear as a cold mountain brook, the soaring twang of pedal steel slide, a strong electric lead, and Heidi's unique vocals. And this song title, like many of Heidi's other song titles, gives one a good idea of what the song is about. In other words, she doesn't hide behind metaphors and poetry and clever wordplay; she says exactly what she means, sings it outright, unapologetically and undaunted. And that is something I admire about her as an artist. Another great song is "The Ramones and George Jones," maybe my favorite on the record. Punk rock versus country-to be sure, an age-old genre conflict-but certainly less of an issue in this day and age where more punks are incorporating country into their sound, and where more country artists appreciate punk than before. I, for one, love this age of music, this great big melting pot of sound in which anything goes. Musically, it's a brave new world, and I hope it continues along that path for many years to come. "Be Good," the album's title track, although not all-out mainstream in sound, has somewhat of a radio country sound to it; even so, it is still a very well-written song, and I find myself enjoying it despite myself. Then there's the closer, my second favorite song on the album, "Ryan Adams Can." This is more of a folky tune, with touches of country here and there, and awesome lyrics. If you're looking for some good country music and don't yet know if you're into mainstream country or alt-country, you might just be into Heidi Howe's Be Good album, which seems to be neutral territory. Be Good, TheMusicUniverse.com If alt country needs a queen, we nominate Heidi Howe to the throne. Be Good is Heidi's first new album of original material in a number of years-a melodious, twangy, sonically beautiful album with songs rich in Americana spirit, optimism, and plenty more feel good vibes that will surely put anyone in a better mood. "Kind Of Crazy," the standout opening track describes Heidi's affection with the one she finds the perfect kind of crazy for her; it's pure traditional country with Heidi's nasal twang vocals, reminiscent of Stevie Nicks. She pays homage to her heroes on the tracks "The Ramones & George Jones," "Ryan Adams Can" (yes, these are actual song titles) and "Stand" where she hopes her relationship can become a great love story as much as June and Johnny Cash's marriage was. With songs that will resonate with listeners from Nashville to Red Hook, Brooklyn Heidi Howe has delivered an album with massive appeal, and poetic country-esque lyrics that people everywhere will relate to and enjoy. Be Good, I Am Entertainment Magazine Heidi Howe has a very nice voice that compliments her amazing songwriting well on her 2014 release, 'Be Good'. After having the privilege of interviewing and reviewing music by top alternative country artists like The Roys, Mickie James, and Lisa Matassa over the past year, I must say that Heidi rolls with the best of them. An artist who has proven her talents on the same stages as top artists in her genre like Todd Snider and the legendary Billy Joe Shaver, I'm not shocked that Heidi's new release is so amazing. Be Good is a strong collective of tales about life's ups and downs. Whether it's an issue related to dating, family, or letting the good times roll, you'll find your story in Heidi's music. One of my favorite songs on Be Good is 'Go Back'. An extremely relatable song that touches on an issue that we have all dealt with at some point; reminiscing about a past relationship with someone you never really got over. Heidi asks, 'Am I always going to go back, go back, go back to you in my mind. Am I always going to go back, go back, go back...one more kiss, just one last time?' If you can't relate, then you're either married to your high school sweetheart, or you're too young to have experien