"One of the best and most unique female voices being recorded today.  She floats and flutters through songs like a bird soaring…"

-Chip McCabe/Chicago Tribune

"#5 Song of the Year "

-American Songwriter Magazine

"Haunting and dynamic…"

-Jim Caligiuri /Austin Chronicle

"Outright devastating…"

Eric Danton/ AOL Spinner

"an earthbound Emmylou Harris..."

-David Menconi/Spin

"there's a magnetic pull that draws fans into the songs..."

-NPR

"…one stop-you-in-your-tracks stunner…"

-Dan Deluca/Philly.com

"there's no denying Shires herself as a tour-de-force, a singer, songwriter and musician who possesses the entire package and evidences it here. A revelatory offering in every sense…"

-Lee Zimmerman/Blurt.com

"beautiful and melancholy…"

-Andrew Dansby/Houston Chronicle

"This year's breakout star..."

-My Old Kentucky Blog

"blessed with the ability to nail the deepest of emotions with simple yet brilliant words…"

-Brian Robbins/Jambands.com

"songwriter makes good on her apprenticeship with the legendary western swing outfit the Texas Playboys and the Tom Waits and Dolly Parton comparisons that have lately followed her around…"

-Jeff Salamom/TexasMonthly.com

"earthy, gutsy, vibrant, occasionally confrontational. When Shires puts her bow to the strings, audiences pay attention…"

-Tris McCall/Star-Ledger

"a uniquely gifted singer, songwriter and fiddler blessed with a literate songwriting style and a crystalline, distinct voice…"

-Alanna Conaway/TasteOfCountry.com

"Amanda Shires is proof that big things can come in small packages…"

-Chris Oglesby/LoneStarMusic.com

"Carrying Lightning builds on the evocative alt-country of 2009’s excellent West Cross Timbers, showcasing both the breathless immediacy of her singing voice and the plainspoken elegance of her songwriting voice…"

-Stephen Deusner/American Songwriter

"an incisive, brilliant piece of modern Americana that demands to be played, then played again…"

-HearHearMusic.com