CAROLYN MARK AND THE ROOM-MATES Terrible Hostess (Mint) Rating: NNN Rating: NNN
Carolyn Mark may be a terrible hostess, but, damn, I wanna be at her next house party. Judging by her new disc, shindigs at the Mark household are a helluva trip. Terrible Hostess has the unsteady feel of post-bacchanalian revelry — you know, that wobbly sense of trying to get your bearings by drinking water and black coffee the day after — with sweet tunes that veer between stripped-down bluegrass, brassy torch songs and anthems to depression that makes you want to drink red wine and slit your wrists. She consistently channels the spirit of Patsy Cline, particularly on the sultry Chumpville, and at the same time deserves props for capturing the nauseous insanity of a true house party.
