"I don't often get to hear songs that so perfectly capture a time and place that most of us only get to visit in our dreams." Fred Koller,
author; Lone Star State of Mind

Outlaws & Lovers
South-Texas singer-songwriter Bianca De Leon sings songs of romance and danger on the borderlands, with stellar support from Joe Ely, Teye, Joel Guzman, and a host of Texas' best musicians. Bianca's south-Texas borderlands sound comes from the dark, warm authenticity of her voice and the dancehall pedigree of the musicians she works with, including Joe Ely, flamenco guitarist Teye, accordionist Joel Guzman, Redd Volkaert on lead guitar, Marty Muse on pedal steel, and Gene Elders on fiddle. Outlaws & Lovers, is an evocative, rootsy mix of originals and stunning covers, from Townes Van Zandt's stark "Waitin' Round To Die" to the tender Spanish ballad "Si Me Recuerdas." With the hard-bought wisdom of "Carlos"; the bittersweet longing of "San Antonio Express"; the cocky romance of "Smuggler's Moon"; the pure dancehall swing of "Hi-Timin1 Girl"; the heart-on-the-sleeve country roots of "I'd Rather Miss Texas"; and the droll Texas humor of "Don't You Hate It When Your Date Gets Shot?", Bianca's songs reach the heights and depths of real life and real love. These are songs from the heart and soul, of outlaws and lovers on the borderlands.

Reviews:

Over the years, there've been more than a few times when someone I've sat with in the cheap seats suddenly gets up on stage and it's always a bit of a shock. So when a woman I've known on and off for year in Townes Van Zandt and David Rodrigue's social circles, with no hint that she was any kind of performer, presented me with a CD, I have to admit I was kinda nervous, and somewjat amazed when it turned out to be really shit hot, though there are a few clues, such as a duet with Joe Ely (Carlos) and supportive quotes from Guy & Suzanna Clark amd Eric Taylor, that this isn't your normal debut album. Turns out Bianca De Leon knew Townes and David from appearing on shows with them, but though she's been living in Austin for many years, her disdain for the almost cash-free virtual career Austin offers singer-songwriters led her to keep her musical identity a secret, even though they know her well as close as Houston's Anderson Fair. De Leon's affectation im using one name, always, in my experience, deeply suspect, is my only reservation about her album. Born in Corpus Christi, she conveys the same sense of uneasy assimilatiomn as David Rodriguez, like him, giving the impressionthat though she writes in English, she thinks in Spanish (her origins are underscored with Marco Antonuoi Solis' Si Me Recuerdos). Backed, but far from overwhelmed, by such A Teamers as Joel Guzmamn, Marvin Dykhuis, Paul Pearcy, David Heath, Marty Muse, Redd Volkaert, gene Elders, Erik Hokkanen and Steve Carter, De Leon soars through 13 songs that range from Townes Van Zandt's bleak Waitin' Round To Die to the sardonic humor of Don't You Hate It When Your Date Get's Shot, but it's the South Texas backdrop that gives this its special flavor, 'border ballad' has become such a loathsome cliche that I'd like to send a copy of Outlaws & Lovers (and Rodriguez' Man Against Beast) to everyone who's written or plans to write one to show them why they shouldn't. Add De Leon to your list of true Texas singer-songwriters.
— John Conquest, 3rd COAST MUSIC

It's fun to set a cross-country car journey to the music of the regions you pass through. John Prine should be played on a loop as you pass through Illinois and Western Kentucky, with "Paradise" cranked in Muhlenburg County. Western Tennessee slides by nicely with the Sun Box for accompamiment, while Mississippi and Lousisiana are chock-full of landscapes that cry for blues and zydeco, respectively. In Texas, George Jones suits the Big Thicket and Beaumont; Willie, the Hill Country; and (who else but) any or all of the Flatlanders are as Panhandle as a giant beefsteak. Former Houstoniamn and part-time Galvestonian Bianca De Leon aims to stake her claim on the Brush Country south of Corpus Christi and San Antonio. Her debut CD, Outlaws & Lovers, combines Spanish, and English lyrics and Mexican and Texan musical styles into a dish that is as South Texan as huevos rancheros. De Leon. who grew up near Corpus Christi, was initiated by her aunt into the fine art of tequila smuggling as a preteen, and this authenticity shows in the disc. There are also guest appearances by Redd Volkhaert, Joe Ely, Teye and Joel Guzman, among others, who enliven one of 2001's most exciting, well-conceived Texas debuts.
- John Nova Lomax, Houston Press

Bianca "Outlaws and Lovers"
Not that Bianca De Leon needs any validation as a singer of Tex-Mex songs.
But, It doesn't hurt that she's joined on her new disc by Joe Ely. And, there she is (in) and old photo on the back of the c.d. being hugged by an open-shirted Townes Van Zandt.

Even without those endorsements, Bianca is about as authentic a border-line crooner as you can get. She sings the lonely "Si Me Recuerdas", in Spanish, and the gut string guitars, accordions, and slide guitars make every song leap and dance.
Bianca's dark voice is deceptively plain. There is a power in her vocals that gathers over the course of these songs like a West Texas thunder storm. Still it's a voice that never overpowers a good story, especially in songs like "Ballad of Dylan Thompson" and "Merle" and in her aching run through Van Zandt's "Waiting Round To Die".
Her duet with Ely on "Carlos" is, not surprisingly, the finest cut of the collection. It's a long, rambling cautionary tale about pride, greed, revenge and betrayal. Imn other words, the classic border ballad.
— Billings Montana Gazette

AMG REVIEW: A longtime cohort of southern Texas musicians such as Townes Van Zandt and Joe Ely, Bianca DeLeon paints a lovely series of heartbroken portraits with a style that is equal parts country & western mixed with "Tex-Mex" instrumentation. The use of flamenco guitars and accordion on Spanish ballads like "Carlos" is evidence of the fine musicianship on naked laments on loss, liquor, and love. "Mr. Whiskey" and "Merle," while not the crème de la crème within, are superb if formulaic country songs from the old pre-Stetson school of Merle Haggard and Dottie West. Backed by a large contingent of seasoned musicians, DeLeon saves the best for "Si Me Requerdas (If You Remember Me)." There is also a touch of humor included in the long-titled "Don't You Hate It When Your Date Gets Shot," but it doesn't cloud how attractive the performances are. A must have.
— Jason MacNeil, Billboard Magazine, No Depression.
AMG rating - 4 stars.

"Hoorah for Bianca! A voice from Texas that does it right."
- Guy and Susanna Clark

"Bianca writes about the real roads of living in this music. Spanish ballads that will stand any test of time. Outlaws & Lovers is a fine record."
- Eric Taylor

"Honest songs are few and far between these days...this collection captures clear pictures of the people and places Bianca has seen. ...makes me wish I was in Texas at one of those dance halls off of some farm to market road with a string of bare light bulbs and an old Pepsi cooler filled with Shiner beer. I don't often get to hear songs that so perfectly capture a time and place that most of us only get to visit in our dreams. The musicians make these great songs into mini-soundtracks. I love this record!"
- Fred Koller, author of 'Lonestar State of Mind'; 'Going Gone'; 'She Came From Fort Worth'

Voices from Around the World

This is John Tortosa emailing from Barcelona, Spain. I got Bianca's CD "Outlaws & Lovers" and i must say it's a hell of an album! I'm just listening to it as I write this and I find it absolutely marvelous...
You can be sure that this CD will get it's good share of country radio in my shows for the Spanish National radi Network which coves the whole of the Spanish territory. My show's called the "Country Express" and airs on Sundays 10 a.m. The catalonian edition of same airs for Radio-4 only for the Catalonia Region, northeast of Spain.
But I also intend to showcase it on "Rouye 66" a daily 1 hour show from 14:00 - 15:00 Mon thru Friday.
So Thanks a lot for this beautiful record; maybe Biancca should know that somebady here in far away Spain likes her record.
John Tortosa
Director/Presenter
country Express
RNE Radio.3 & 4
P. De Gracia 1
08007 Barcelona, Spain

I always have difficulties to find female singers to broadcast: it is not a problem of voices, bu often they don't sing the music I want to hear, or the songs are weak or they don't have a real personality. When I get a new c.d. from a female singer I always expect I will be able to add her to my playlist because they are not enough on it. When i first listened to Bianca, I immediately knew she would be the new entry. Texas has always been the only place where you hve a real chance to find real talents, and Bianca takes her place among the best of them, not only on one song, but one great song after another {there is even a Townes cover}. She asserts herself to be a part of the small list of female singers that count in country music: That is why her voice is resonating in the French Alps.
Michel Penard
Radio ISA
Lyon, France

I was just asking myself which album should be the next CD of the week, when the answer came with Bianca's "Outlaws & Lovers." that's a very fine album. Thanks for sending it.
- The Oldenburg, Radio Winschoten

The songs, the musicianship and the general vibe of the disk is to be applauded.
- George Peben, Melbourne , AustraliaAlbum of the week 04-08-01
Real American Music
D.J. Joe Vincent
Radio JRRI
Waterford, Ireland

Worldwide Mainstream Country Chart
Most Played Artist Chart 01 thru 15, April, 2001 #21 Bianca Outlaws & Lovers

It's a great pleasure to play the music of Bianca's c.d. It's really a very nice album with great music on it. I chose the album as album of the week.
Roel Stabler
Radio Director
RadioM.G.
The Netherlands

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