CATIE OFFERMAN - Barely A Two Lane Road - MCA Records Nashville

Building on the foundational layers of the chapter she jumpstarted with last year’s “I Just Killed A Man,” and continued to intrigue with “Ask Me To Dance,” “OK Cowboy,” and most recently, “Sound of Missing You,” Texas native Catie Offerman has carved out her unique niche amongst a crowded field to stand out as one to watch in 2024.

She now returns with “Barely A Two Lane Road.”

Written by Offerman, Rodney Clawson, and Ryan Beaver, a song in which she by her own admission compares to Deana Carter’s “Strawberry Wine,” carries a strikingly similar feel in its soft breezy tempo, coming of age lyrics, and overall vibe of reminiscing fondly through the reliving of young love and heartbreak.

Instantly setting the scene with the opening line of the song, Offerman recalls “I was a little too comfortable in his car,” before then trailing through the valley of the aftermath as she laments from her today perspective on how she knew even back then that it probably wouldn’t last, that innocence is bittersweet when you lose it all, etc. expertly utilizing the verses in perfect juxtaposition to the picture painting chorus as it paces the middle ground between her being right there in that moment as a youth and looking back on it as an adult today:

“Barely a two lane road

Covered in deep pot holes

Mixed with some telephone poles

In a straight line heading west

Headlights shining on us

Dancing in the county line dust

Wrapped in his arms

My head there on his chest

They say in heaven all the streets are paved in gold

But tonight, its barely a two lane road”

Though it’s a story that’s been weaved into country music time and time again, Catie Offerman’s ability to craft such crisp, memorable lyrics is a big part of what separates her and really makes her stand out.

Painting very specific with lines such as “had Sonic Sprite with a vodka shot,” “seats laid back in the July heat,” etc. adds simple, unique touches to her story, striking her memory with something so personal that it vividly brings her black and white’s to life; a true testament to her songwriting craft.

With another intriguing layer notched on her growing resume, Offerman will continue to turn heads on tour this spring in support of Parker McCollum.

(Review Written By: Jeffrey Kurtis)

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