Album Review – Caitlin Cannon’s “The TrashCannon Album”

Like a tornado tearing through a trailer park, strewing the trash and dirty laundry everywhere, and leaving one side of a singlewide so totally exposed that every saucy detail of someone’s personal life is just sitting out there in the breeze for the entire neighborhood to see, Caitlin Cannon comes at you with this wild, attitudinal record filled with rampant oversharing and an ample bounties of wicked entertainment, appropriately titled the The TrashCannon Album.
Caitlin Cannon’s trash is the audience’s treasure trove of country and rockabilly pleasure that will have you first in stitches, then later sobbing with empathy, and then recycling the experience over and over again as you can’t get enough. Whether you’re looking for steel guitar-soaked tearjerkers, the whip-cracking attitude of Bettie Page in leopard print, or something in the spectrum in between, Caitlin Cannon has you covered, all compiled into this record that can affectionately considered a beautiful mess.
Though this Alabama native with a hairdresser mom and a brother in prison unabashedly celebrates underachieving in the opening song “Going For Bronze,” she puts everything she’s got into this effort, fearlessly bearing personal details, showing an astounding range of styles, and generally writing most current artists under the table. Nonetheless, this record is definitely for the underdogs, the also-rans, the bastards and bartenders and service workers and day laborers whose lives didn’t end up entirely as planned. But hey, we survived, and with a few stories to tell. And some like Caitlin Cannon have more stories than others.

Along the way, Cannon also takes ample time to inform you that she’s not here for your bullshit. The second track “Toolbag” let’s it be known just who wears the utility belt around these parts, while “Dumb Blonde” is all about turning the tables on those easy marks who would judge a book by its cover.
But between all the bluster and attitude is a peek behind the facade of emotional detachment and toughness to a woman willing to fess up to a serious drinking problem brought on by drowning out the reality of a bad relationship, to the true story of her hairdresser mother working her ass off to visit her brother in the penitentiary on a regular basis, to Caitlin coping with abandonment issues from her absentee father.
With the way the record starts off, you think this is going to be some jet black angry bangs fire-breathing rockabilly romp—fun, but silly and maybe a little shallow in scope. But by the end, you’re wondering if you haven’t just listened to one of the best and most cohesive works forwarded for public consumption all year. Producer Megan Burtt deserves extra kudos for making sure that each of these twelve tracks finds the perfect musical accompaniment and mood, to the dark roots hues of “Mama’s a Hairdresser,” to the a capella patty cake of “My Man.”
Such a spicy and diverse effort with such great instrumentation and varying tempers, The TrashCannon Album is like a romp through a country roots history book, and touches all the erogenous zones of the musical palette, including you honky tonk heart with what might be one of the best songs on the record, “Barbers and Bartenders.”
Bad lives and poor decisions tend to make for good country music. And though it’s a shame things can’t be all rosy and white picket fences for everyone, the theater of real life and the reassurance that no matter how hard you have it, someone else out there is in the same boat or has it worse is what makes for some of the best music. And The TrashCannon Album is some of the best music to be had.
Two Guns Up (9.5/10)
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Purchase The TrashCannon Album
May 18, 2020 @ 9:18 am
YES, YES, YES!!!!! A thousand times, YES!!
May 18, 2020 @ 9:40 am
I like this a lot. Daddy-o-mine hits right in the heart and gut at the same time, just like all the good country songs do. Introducing me to musicians I might never otherwise hear is one of my favourite aspects of Saving country Music.
May 19, 2020 @ 11:05 pm
Caitlin!!! I loved your voice when you were young and now the mature voice of you touches my heart again!! I feel your emotions!! So glad you are following your star and using your wonderful talent!! Go get ’em!! Keep Reaching for the Star out there with YOUR Name on it!! Love all of these songs!! Love and Hugs!!
June 5, 2020 @ 8:29 pm
This is pure ????????????/ Can’t get enough of this stellar album.
May 18, 2020 @ 10:08 am
The album was on my “In The Pipeline” list a couple of weeks ago.
With so many more or less “obscure” releases the Caitlin Cannon album went over to my “back burner” list for when-i-have-10-min-of-time releases.
After investing 30 min i have mixed feelings about The TrashCannon Album.
The album is a wild mix of styles & genres. The country tracks can grab me (“Deliver”, “Barbers & Bartenders” & “Daddy-O Mine”). The other tracks…well…not so much.
Overall a solid album.
In The Pipeline (05/22):
Drew Jacobs – History – Album
Jordan Davis – Jordan Davis – EP
Adam Kurtz – Storms Of Steel – Album
Rachele Lynae – Every Reason – Album
Troy Engle – Fox Hollow Memories – Album
Craig Morgan – God, Family, Country – Album
John Alan Carmack – Kentucky Motel – Album
Jamie Williams & The Roots Collective – Do What You Love – Album
Dwight Yoakam – 31st December 1985 Filmore Auditorium, San Francisco CA (Live 1985 FM Broadcast) – Album
&
Kylie Frey – “Spur Of The Moment” – Single/Track – Released (Her last single “One Night In Tulsa” went to #1 on the Texas Top100 & “Spur…” is a monster!)
May 18, 2020 @ 11:47 pm
Thanks OlaR.
Looking forward to the Craig Morgan and Kylie Frey releases.
Also believe that Jaime Wyatts new record is ouy this Friday? And possibly Tessy Lou Williams?
May 20, 2020 @ 3:01 pm
Hello!
The Jamie Wyatt album will be out next week.
Tessy Lou Williams will be released in a couple of hours.
February 18, 2023 @ 3:31 pm
Hi Ola. ,hope you’re good, did you ever get the chance to review our “do what you love” album , Jamie from Jamie Williams and the Roots Collective
May 21, 2020 @ 3:25 pm
Thx Olaf, Really looking forward to the Jaime Wyatt and Tessy Lou albums myself. The single releases have been so satisfying. Don’t let the Rachele Lynae release hit your back burner (I’ve got a co-write on that one.) Her tune “Braggin On Ya” is my new country pop guilty pleasure.
May 21, 2020 @ 8:08 pm
*OlaR! finger hit the f key.
May 18, 2020 @ 10:08 am
Wow, thanks for posting this one. Would have never heard it otherwise.
May 18, 2020 @ 10:37 am
Gutsy ballsy chic.
Love her!
What a Great voice
May 18, 2020 @ 10:49 am
I’ve been listening to this the last 3 days and really liking it. The variety, the oldie vibe on some tunes, the rhythms, and ……..the SONGS!!! Drink Enough into Mama’s a Hairdresser, Deliver, and Better Job etc……all these songs are great. I know this has barely scratched the surface of how much I’m probably going to love this album. Gonna be even more fun to see live sometime in the very distant future. Ordering the CD because in this case the music matches the album cover and I want it on the shelf.
Very cool!
May 18, 2020 @ 11:35 am
I like this. Voice reminds me of Elizabeth Cook. Its as you point out, sonically and stylistically all over the place. I checked out her bio and Go Fund Me request, and I came away feeling like she sees this album as a feminist Americana concept record. She mentions its satire. Shes officially categorized as Americana. She’s worked in NYC and pursued various things, even did folk music for a time. I guess my question is: Is this whole thing a a big shtick, in other words entirely a satirical art project meant to mock the redneck cullture? She mentions that the title is coming from the idea of having her drummer play trash cans.
Is this a put on character like Unknown Hinson or Hot Country Knights? I’m getting that feeling, although the serious songs on this record are convincing enough to be taken seriously. Shes clearly a real talent, no doubt, but is she in this for the love of country music , or is it something else?
Don’t take this as a criticism, im genuinely wondering.
May 18, 2020 @ 12:59 pm
I guess I understand what you’re asking, but I think we need to let the music speak for itself. This is not a straightforward country record. For me it feels very old-school underground, with a lot of rockabilly influence, and some attitude and cool factor. “Americana” is the common term these days, and even though it’s definitely loaded, I don’t think we should consider it as a bad word. If she called herself country, people would be jumping her butt because of the rock influences in the album. I love the variety and wish there was more of it in most records.
May 18, 2020 @ 2:57 pm
Thanks for this amazing review, Trigger…. For seeing this album for what it is and for helping give it legs. -Megan
May 18, 2020 @ 1:48 pm
“She mentions its satire.” Huh, that’s really interesting. That’s not what I thought while listening to the album, which I enjoyed, even though my life experiences are vastly different, to say the least! To call it satire would take away from the authenticity of it, as if she were merely playing a role (a “put on character,” as you say), but that’s not at all the impression I got, whether the more comedic material or the more serious.
May 18, 2020 @ 5:56 pm
I’ll definitely give this one a listen tomorrow!
May 19, 2020 @ 10:31 am
I love it! My stand out track here is “Mama’s a Hairdresser”. The song is more rock than country, but it is so good. I get vibes of early Heart from it????
May 19, 2020 @ 10:36 am
Love Caitlin Cannon!! Such a great artist!
May 20, 2020 @ 2:32 pm
I love this album!! Going for the Bronze is such a fun song. Deliver hit me straight in the gut, I was in those same shoes with an ex before I met the love of my life. Other standouts for me include Barbers and Bartenders, Better Job, Drink Enough, and Mama’s a Hairdresser. ????
May 20, 2020 @ 7:35 pm
You effed up Trig. This is a 10/10
May 21, 2020 @ 3:40 pm
Just want to thank everybody for listening to the album and chiming in! Waking up to Trigger’s review was a real Cinderella experience for me. Appreciate the questions, Kevin(s). Since live music is postponed, Alice Wallace is hosting a listening party / Q and A- Friday May 29th (8pm CT) on my facebook page. You’re all invited! I’ll be happy to answer all those questions. XOC
May 21, 2020 @ 7:48 pm
I listened to it on Spotify and to me it sounded like the instruments were real low and the singing was kind of loud and hard to understand. Seems like I’m the only person who had this problem though. I was constantly trying to adjust the volume so I could hear the instrumentals and understand her lyrics.
February 10, 2021 @ 8:10 am
I saw this album offer & trusting it’s authorship entirely… I bought it… no question… ALL Caitlin Cannon does is borne of authenticity, she being acutely observant, & quite capably raw as needs be, …& with Megan Burtt at the console putting her sonic signature on the project, I’m set in place for a sonically scenic sabbatical …n’ as is so often her M.O. …I do expect to be slammed with a lil’ mo “been a bad boy” lessons learned!
Triumphant, storybook, eclectic, heart-strung to heart stomping’…
I’m VinceWest.US
American Singer/Songwriter,
;^~