Fight Like a Girl is the debut album of American country music duo Bomshel. It was released on October 20, 2009 via Curb Records. Its lead-off single, the title track, peaked at #30 in June 2009, thus becoming the duo's first Top 30 country hit. "19 and Crazy" was released as the album's second single, and reached #33. "Just Fine" has been announced as the third single and was released to radio in May 2010.

History

Originally composed of Buffy Lawson and Kristy Osmunson, Bomshel first charted in 2006 with "It Was an Absolutely, Finger-Lickin', Grits and Chicken, Country Music Love Song." Neither this song nor the duo's next three singles — "Ain't My Day to Care," "Bomshel Stomp" or "The Power of One" — made top 40 on the country music charts. In addition, the duo did not have a full studio album release after its fourth single. Lawson subsequently left the duo in 2007, with Kelley Shepard taking her place. Shepard and Osmunson released "Just This Way" in 2008, followed by "Cheater, Cheater." While "Just This Way" never charted, "Cheater, Cheater" was a #30 hit for Joey + Rory in early 2009.

In mid-2009, Bomshel entered the country Top 40 for the first time with "Fight Like a Girl," which the duo wrote with Bob Regan. This song peaked at #30 approximately a month before the album's release, followed by "19 and Crazy," which became the duo's second Top 40 country hit. Also included on the album is a cover of No Doubt's "Just a Girl."

Critical reception

Thom Jurek of Allmusic gave the album two stars out of five, saying, "there are nine solidly written , a good one, and a throwaway," but adding that he thought the production made it sound "more like it was recorded by machines than by people." Bobby Peacock of Roughstock gave it a positive review, calling it "brash and ballsy, anchored with well-chosen and often female-empowering themes" and saying that the lyrics use "cleverly-chosen details, unusual hooks and interesting turns of phrase."

Chart performance

References

Category:2009 albums

Category:Bomshel albums

Category:Curb Records albums

Category:Debut albums

Artist/Band Information

Bomshel () is an American country music duo founded in 2004 by lead singer Buffy "Buf" Lawson and fiddle player Kristy Osmunson. Signed to Curb Records in 2004, Bomshel's original lineup charted four single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, and recorded an unreleased album called Bomshel Stomp. One of their songs, "The Power of One", was included in the soundtrack to the film Evan Almighty. Lawson departed in December 2007, and Kelley Shepard was chosen as her replacement. The new lineup of Shepard and Osmunson released has released four more singles, including "Fight Like a Girl" and "19 and Crazy," both of which reached the country Top 40. In October 2009, Bomshel released its debut album, also titled Fight Like a Girl.

History

Buffy Lawson and Kristy Osmunson, natives of Gilbert, Arizona and Sandpoint, Idaho respectively, both moved to Nashville, Tennessee in the 1990s. Prior to meeting, the two worked as songwriters in Nashville, with Lawson's writing credits include tracks for Mila Mason and Linda Davis. Osmunson met Lawson at a fan fair in Nashville. Lawson and Osmunson found that they worked well together, and decided to perform together.

2006-2008 Bomshel Stomp

The duo first performed at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge in Nashville, where they would set up on Tuesday nights to play their songs. Later, they began to play at several clubs throughout Nashville as well. By 2006, Bomshel was signed to Curb Records. Bomshel's first single, "It Was an Absolutely, Finger Lickin', Grits and Chicken, Country Music Love Song", was released in early 2006, followed by the release of "Ain't My Day to Care". Respectively, these songs reached #49 and #44 on the country singles charts.

Bomshel's third single was titled "Bomshel Stomp." Originally written as a joke on Osmunson's birthday, "Bomshel Stomp" was intended as a "rave groove with a hillbilly song." While "Ain't My Day to Care" was charting, "Bomshel Stomp" was tested on radio stations throughout the state of Michigan. During mid-2006, it became the most-requested song on country radio stations in the state. It was then released as the duo's third single, peaking at #46. It was succeeded by "The Power of One," a cut from the soundtrack for the film Evan Almighty. Also in 2006, the duo released an extended play entitled Bomshel Stomp which featured the title track, "Country Music Love Song" and "Ain't My Day to Care."

In December 2007, after "The Power of One," Lawson left the duo, citing creative differences. She was replaced by Arizona native Kelley Shepard, who made her debut on the duo's fifth single, "Just This Way." Both "Just This Way" and its follow-up, "Cheater, Cheater," failed to chart. The latter was first a single for Joey + Rory (whose members, Rory Lee Feek and wife Joey Martin Feek, co-wrote it) in late 2008, and their version peaked at #30 on the country charts.

2009-Present: Fight Like a Girl

Bomshel released its seventh single, "Fight Like a Girl," in early 2009. It became the duo's first Top 30 country hit, peaking at #30 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. "19 and Crazy" followed in November 2009 as the album's second single, and was also a minor Top 40 hit on the chart. Both songs and "Just This Way" are included on Bomshel's debut album, Fight Like a Girl, released by Curb on October 20, 2009. "Just Fine" was released as the albums' third single on June 7, 2010. It debuted at #56 on the country chart for the week of July 3, 2010, and peaked at #53 two weeks later.

In January 2010, the duo was nominated by the Academy of Country Music for Top New Duo.

Charitable efforts

In late 2006, Bomshel put up a custom-built, autographed motorcycle, called the "Wicked Women of Tequila Rose Chopper", up for auction on CMT's auction website, CMTAuctions.com. Yellowstone Madonna of Michigan was the winner of the chopper. Proceeds from the auction went to the benefit of the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute.

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

Singles

Music videos

Awards and nominations

References