No Fools, No Fun

Puss N Boots consists of Sasha Dobson, Norah Jones, and Catherine Popper, three musicians who've worked on solo projects, on side projects, and with countless other musicians of worthy note. When the three of them are together, no one hogs the spotlight, and the love for the songs reigns supreme. They’d been performing in New York City nightclubs since 2008, but this debut album didn’t appear until six years later, in 2014. Three tracks here—a version of Johnny Cash’s cover of Rodney Crowell’s “Bull Rider,” Neil Young’s “Down by the River,” and George Jones’ “Tarnished Angel”—were recorded live at Brooklyn's Bell House in 2013, while the majority of the tracks here were recorded in a studio where the trio kept things loose and sparse, especially on the gorgeous “Twilight.” Country-rock is primarily the focus, but the trio do rock out on Norah Jones’ rockabilly tune “Don’t Know What It Means.” Both covers and originals come together as one, with the singers handing off the vocal duties to one another with a sense of fun and playfulness that never lets the vibe get too grim.