Produced by Jim Dickinson this is quite an interesting one. Amy LaVere is a singer/songwriter/upright bass player (quite a unique combination) who hails from Memphis. (Oh she’s an actress too, having appeared in Walk the Line.) LaVere has several different combinations of musicians backing her here, including two violinists. That doesn’t sound odd except one plays gypsy jazz, the other classic country. Although the material here often deal with morbid subjects (no less than three songs refer to offing one’s significant other) it’s often quite attractive. The opening track, “Killing Him,” is a bizarre and sad tale set to a hypnotic beat wound by a steel guitar and gypsy violin. Hard to believe that song would be followed by a lush country love ballad titled “Tennessee Valentine.” LaVere covers Carla Thomas “That Beat,” but it’s hardly a straight cover. Dickinson and LaVere take the song and make it sound like Romanian R&B. The title of this CD comes from the telling lyrics of “Overcome” which warns of the dangers of consumerism. Maybe the best way to describe this music is as classic country/gypsy jazz. There are a few awkward moments here, but Anchors & Anvils is well worth checking out, and I’d love to see her live.