by Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.
Between the rockabilly of "Three Hearts Later" and the Patsy Cline-flavored "Four Walls," Marti Brom is a proud throwback to yesterday. She doesn't so much embrace the image of "old-style" country singer as flaunt it. The cover of Sings Heartache Numbers shows a big-eyed, bejeweled Brom, her hands and head resting on a whisky bottle that says "Marti." Brom is joined by a handful of fine musicians, including guitarist Levi Mullen and steel guitarist Dickie Overby, for a traditional country set. "Traditional" in this case means a hardcore country sound complete with whining steel and a waltz beat, and old songs like "Apartment #9" and "A-11." There's an enjoyable, melancholic take on "Eight Weeks in a Barroom," a song that traces the dissolution of one poor heartbroken soul. By the end of the song the poor sot has drunk herself into mental instability and lost her home (though it's possible the big car in the driveway is a hearse). Brom's vocal here is quite lovely. There's also a nice take on "The Twelfth of Never" before the album closes with an extra, unlisted -- but obvious -- track, "Heartache by the Numbers." Sings Heartache Numbers is an enjoyable, well-executed album, offering a nice alternative to Faith and Shania.