KAT MASLICH-BODE

The Road Of 6

[Mishara Music]

A decade ago, Kat Maslich-Bode (then just Maslich) was half of the buzzed-about Los Angeles-based acoustic duo eastmountainsouth with Peter Bradley Adams. They released an album and toured with folks like Lucinda Williams and Nelly Furtado before breaking up in 2004. The alluring EP The Road of 6 is the at-long-last solo debut for the now Nashville-based singer-songwriter. The opening track, “March,” offers a lovely, if somewhat greeting-card pretty, reflection on marriage and motherhood. More sharply edged is a cover of Tim Easton’s thought-provoking take on religion, “J.P.M.F.Y.F.” (“Jesus, protect me from your followers”), which Maslich-Bode delivers with a soulful earthiness. The small-town tale “Poor Old Town,” featuring the inimitable Jim Lauderdale, is a particular standout here. Aided by producer Neilson Hubbard, Maslich-Bode creates an understated, rootsy groove throughout this short set. If nothing else, The Road of 6 should whet appetites for a full-length disc. –MB