David Adam Byrnes - Premium Country - Better Angels Records - Better Angels Music - Born and raised in Sherwood, Arkansas, Byrnes has had the dream of being a country singer since his parents took him to his first George Strait concert. By the time he reached high school, he had the opportunity to be one of the opening acts for Hank Williams Jr., among others. After selling out local clubs in Arkansas such as the Hollywood Country Club, Bad Bob’s, and The Rock City Lounge, his name has become known across the state. To quote one of Byrnes’ songs, “he loves a bar room band, has worn a cowboy hat, cranks his music up loud, loves his family, respects his country, has known heartache, has been called a backwoods redneck”. His unforgettable vocals and songwriting ability is the main ingredient here, with him having written 10 of the songs. Opening cut “Sweet Distraction” seems to be getting a lot of airplay - I’ve heard it on Sirius XM numerous times. “One Too Many Times” is a bittersweet, broken heart ballad, an instant classic, and “She Only Wanted Flowers” is a tale of trying to impress a girl with the wrong things, when she just wants your attention. In the love ‘em and leave ‘em vein, he offers “Maybe She Won’t Go”, wishful thinking on a break-up, then the humorous tale on “If You Didn’t Have A Woman” spins the wish list of big trucks, dirty dishes, a bunch of drunk friends, and smelly bathrooms if you were single again.  The party anthem, “My Kind of Crowd” is a redneck, beer-drinking, honky tonk, tailgate party with a “kick-ass barroom band”, and his heart-breaking ballad “When I’m Done Missing You” is a soft, tender tale of trying to get on with your life after losing a “love of your life”. These are all great songs and his strong vocals hit the nail on the head, with superb arrangements to boot. Highly recommended! Find him at www.davidadambyrnes.com.

Slim Fatz -The Original Slim - Aladdin Records - As much at home playing on your front porch or on a festival stage, Slim Fatz is a bluesman extraordinaire, who has represented Atlanta in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Slim has made the list for Grammy consideration for the last three years in a row. He is a masterful storyteller and what he does with a guitar should be illegal. Slim started his career in New York before later moving to New Orleans, Memphis, Atlanta then to Florida, spending quality time on the streets of New Orleans and in the alleys of Memphis. Some of Slim Fatz’ influences include Louis Armstrong, Robert Johnson, Taj Mahal, Leon Redbone and Tom Waits. From the first narrative as he describes his style of slide playing, you know you’re in for a treat of his growling vocals and award-winning pickin’, a trip back to the Delta front porch parties and juke joint Saturday nights. Songs range from “Day Workin’”, a tribute to the long hard days spent pickin’ cotton, “Hoe De Culture” about the hoe he used to work the cotton fields (not the Ho you was thinkin’ about, shame on you), and the title cut lets him work out the slide while rambling about whatever he feels like. He pays tribute to a favorite drink on “Bourbon”  and even an ode to “Sweat”, as in what hard workin’ will make you do, and more hard times are addressed on “Slim on Death”, his take on passing into the great beyond. His accoustic approach and gravelly voice adds to the momentum, and it all comes together as a mystical visit to the Mississippi Delta. A good listen, so check it out. Find him at www.myspace.com/slimfatz.

Paul Orta with Lazy Lester - Shuffle With Lester - Great Blues Recordings - Paul  has played harmonica with his group, The Kingpins and various other groups all over the world, but this Port Arthur native has teamed up with long-time blues favorite Lazy Lester to produce this fantastic work, combining these two amazing vocalists and harp players for some soul-shakin’, foot-stompin’, down home boogie-woogies blues. Lazy Lester (born Leslie Johnson in Torras, Louisiana in 1933) who cut his first record in 1956 and went on to become a legend with songs like “Sugar Coated Love”, still has the chops and you’ll hear it right here. You might also recognize Little Ray Ybarra on guitar, whose CD we reviewed two months ago (“Going Back To Eunice”) as his work really adds to the mix. With half originals and half covers, they get rolling with “She Know How”. a full-blast rocker that sets the pace, and the harp on “Leaving In The Morning” is a taste of pure juke-joint heaven, while their cover of Sonny Boy Williamson’s “Don’t Start Me Talking” gets to the meat of the matter. Other rockin’ cuts include “One Of These Mornings” and Jimmy Reed’s “Bright Lights, Big City”. To slow the pace down a bit, try “Tear Drops”, a cry-in-your-beer ballad, and their cover of Elmore James’ “The Sky Is Crying” is low-down and dirty. This is a roller coaster ride of blues classics and new originals, with plenty to like from start to finish. Man, this is the real deal. You blues lovers out there will want add this to your collection right now. Find out more at the label’s web site, at www.great-recordings.com.

Jack Oblivian - Rat City - Fat Possum Records - Deep in the Memphis underground grows this musical enigma, who has played drums with numerous groups from his teen days with Johnny Vomit & the Dry Heaves, the Compulsive Gamblers, then formed the Oblivians in 1993 and in between, has played with the likes of Andre Williams, the Cool Jerks, the Tennessee Tearjerkers, King Louis & His Loose Diamonds, Greg Oblivian & the Tip Tops, ‘68 Comeback, The Natural Kicks and Tav Falco’s Panther Burns. While many of these don’t strike a familiar chord, you have probably heard one or more of the tunes they produced over the years. Now, Jack (Yarber) has mustered his forces, including a wide array of musician friends, to bring us this eclectic mix of proto punk, blues, country and junkyard rock. The title cut is a bone-crunching tale of a place we all know, down-in-the-dumps but full of life, then “Mass Confusion” moves us to a mystical world of musical madness. His cool ode to aging, “Old Folk’s Boogie” is a muffled, retro ballad with tuff guitar runs, and the 60’s style ballad “Dark Eyes” is a comforting walk back in time with cool riffs and a relaxed feel. He comes back bouncing on “Kidnapper”, a reggae-feeling cut with gangster undertones and lots of keyboard action, then takes “Crime of Love” to a new high, with hot licks and dry humor. He takes us surfing with “Girl On The Beach”, a Beach Boys infused rocker, and “Lover Please” is another reggae beat anthem with a lively theme. This is a great group of songs, and a lot of fun to listen to. Check it out for yourself and I think you’ll agree.  Find him at fatpossum.com/artists/jack-oblivian.

Various Artists -The Best of Times - Sleeveless Records - Sales of this compilation of Sara’s songs covered by 38 renowned Texas artists will go to benefit Theatre Action Project (TAP), which brings art, music and theatre to kids in Central Texas schools. Artists include Willie Nelson, Marcia Ball, Shawn Colvin, Ruthie Foster, Jimmy La Fave, Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, Brave Combo, Robert Earl Keen... and dozens more! It was created by Sara Hickman to benefit Theatre Action Project in Austin, Texas, a non-profit that brings art, music and theatre to Central Texas schools. Thank you to ALL the artists, engineers and producers who shared their creative spirits to make this amazing recording a reality; to the Connextion for creating the download site; to Pat for designing the packaging; Mark Hallman for mastering; David Kronke, for the liner notes; Universal Music Group and all the co-writers and publishers who graciously allowed us to use the songs without a fee so Theatre Action Project would make 100% of the funds from the sale of this recording, and, finally, the Texas Commission on the Arts & the Texas State Legislature for naming Sara Official State Musician so she could speak out on behalf of families and the arts. Now for the contents of the discs - the first thing that has to be said about the compilation is the diversity of the Texas music artists who answered Sara’s call for a contribution. Willie Nelson, Sara’s predecessor as Official State Musician of Texas, opens Disc 1 with a tender rendition of the ballad “Simply” Colin Gilmore’s take on “After The Fall” is haunting and a true blessing, while Marcia Ball does justice to “Strong Woman” with her clinking keyboards and lovely vocals on this classy rocker. Shelley King’s cover of “Open Up To Me” is a sparse, tearful request, and Robert Earl Keen does his usual laid back best on the love song “Under The Sycamore Tree”. Given the enormous talent assembled here, it’s no wonder that the quality and diversity are unequaled. Highly recommended and the proceeds go to a great cause. Download it online at the web site at sarahickman.com/site/music/bestoftimes.

Bad Bob - Bad Bob and His  Good Friends - Bob Rohan Music - A good old down-home country record with some serious fiddlin’ by Bad Bob (Rohan) and a bunch of his musician friends, including Bert Wills on guitar, Bill Howard, John Gould and Brian Thomas on steel guitar, Lonesome Greg Lowry on Dobro, and a number of other outstanding local favorites. His friendly, twangy voice leans towards some Bob Wills country swing from the 40’s and 50’s and many of the arrangements lean in that direction. Most of the songs are either originals or traditional tunes, but covers of Marty Robbins’ “Cigarettes and Coffee Blues” and “Deep In The Heart of Texas” also make the cut. There’s some nice Christian family-oriented material like “Lord, I’m In Trouble” and “Give Me Jesus” as well as few humorous cuts like “Daddy’s Pad (When Momma’s Mad)” and “She Took A Blowtorch To My Workbench”. Easily my favorite is “Stars On The Sidewalk”, co-written by Bob and Dale Watson (who joins in a duet with Bob on the song), a tear-jerker about lost hopes and broken dreams. A very easy listen, and I highly recommend it. Visit the web site at: www.badbobrohan.com.

Brother 2 Brother - Texas Blues Rocks - Self-Produced - We were there for the humble beginnings of this long-running institution of local blues, rock and R & B music and have seen a lot of changes over the years. With only one original member left, Norm Uhl on keyboards and vocals, the current lineup consists of Sandy Hickey on vocals, Jon Cometta on guitar, Dan Jones on drums, and Ernie Diaz on bass. Guest musicians included Patrick Brennan on sax and another original member, the late, great Mike “Lowboy” Leubner for his last recorded memory. It has been five years since Lookin’ For Texas and this is a welcome treat. The opening cut “Sizzlin’ Hot” is a jazzy, funky ballad with strong sexual undertones, then the bouncy ballad “Wrong Side of the Blues” takes a more jazz-oriented feel, but is a cute little tune. A smoky ballad, “The Day You Went Away” is a fine example of love gone bad song, and a delightful song, and Norm takes the lead vocals on a cutesy “The Drinking Song” where he keeps promising to “give up drinking, as soon as I finish this beer”. Sandy belts out “Lost Respect”, a real torch song of he-done-her-wrong story, and then nails a scorching cover of “Use What You Got”. Her rendition of the Gershwin classic “Summertime” is a fine cover of this much-covered song, and is also a staple of their live shows, and then they finish with the title cut, a real rockin’ blues cut with lots of screaming guitars, howling harmonica and honky-tonk piano, a really good way to end the album. The fitting tribute to the late bass player “Lowboy” Leubner is including a cut of him singing Jimmy Thackery’s “Cool Guitar (Sell The Bithe’s Car), which was a staple of their shows for many years. Thanks for the memories! All in all, this is a fun group of songs, with several outstanding cuts, and I know all you Texas blues fans will love it. Find them at www.brother2brother.com.

David Vidal -After the Storm - David grew up in New Mexico and Colorado in a musical family that moved often. His father was a boogie-woogie piano player, who also sang cowboy songs accompanied by guitar. His three older sisters had a vocal trio that performed at churches and schools. Vidal taught himself guitar from a book of blues standards, and started playing in jam bands in high school in Denver. After graduating, he took off hitchhiking across America, guitar in hand. He ended up in Houston where he put together a group of the best Houston area musicians to help with this album. They include Mark May and Larry Treadwell on guitar, James Rose on drums, Ed Starkey, Larry Evans and Jeremiah Hamilton on bass, Laura Creamer on vocals,/guitar, Skip Nallia, Berry Selin and Earl Gilliam on keyboards, and Donald Glennon on accordian. From the opening cut, an acoustic ballad, “Let It Be Me”, a lazy cut that will lull you, he steps it up on the title cut, a smoky, higher energy tune with references to the Louisiana tragedies. He cuts up a lot on “I’m Lucky” with some tangy guitar and plunking piano, then really gets funky on “Sometimes U Got 2 Choose”, a real rockin’ gutsy cut. He gets sentimental on “Hotel Know It All” with some smokin’ slide guitar, then ramps it up with “Holy Land” and it’s implications of redemption. My favorite cuts are “My Sweet Nadine” a real catchy rocker with smart lyrics, and the Cajun tune “Ces’t La Vie, Mon Petit” with a foot-stompin’ accordion and a great beat.  This is a great sampling of Houston musicians and David’s growling vocals, a pleasant treat if ever there was one, a very enjoyable feast of Americana to please all music fans. Find him at the web site www.flyindogrecords.com/davidvidal

Funky Mustard - Alma del Fuego (Soul of Fire) - Moosepie Records - This esoteric mix of Texas rock and interesting instrumentals combines the best of what a rock band should be with some other instruments like trumpet, violin, cello and flugal horn thrown in for good measure. The result is a gumbo of original vocal cuts and jam instrumentals that provide an enjoyable listen. Featuring Larry White on lead vocals and guitar, Kevin Crenshaw on drums, Gardner Hedrick on bass, Kristen Jensen on violin, Melody Kelley on cello, Tim Glaze on horns, Larissa Lopez on backing vocals and Carlos Johnson on percussion, they bring many years of experience in various bands to this one, formed in 2002. Named after a song they wrote, “it stood for that jar of mustard in your refrigerator with the spicy herbs and rough-cut seeds that give it its flavor. From time to time the jar would be added to from other jars, thereby giving it even more flavor than it was originally created with.” Hard rockers like “Lipstick” and “Train To Nowhere” (light rail?) cater to the axe-grinder in all true rock bands, while the ballads, like “Let It Crash” and “Technicolor” aim for a more mellow sound. Produced by Rock Romano (Dr. Rockit) and Larry White, the quality is superb and the sound invigorating. They play at Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar at 1024 E. 24th Street in Houston. Do yourself a favor and check them out. Find out more about them at the web site  www.funkymustard.com

Terry Daily - Country Blues - Great Recordings - Terry’s latest musical offering is an outstanding example of his skills as a writer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. This collection of 12 original songs is deeply rooted in Country Blues and mixes in some Gospel messages as well. Terry says he has always felt close to the Blues and the troubles and the joys of this life have always been the fodder for his songs, so the Blues seem to be the most natural way he can express this feeling. He is joined on this recording by his long-time drummer friend, Dino. On one of the songs the late Doug Deane lends his excellent saxophone talents and this was the last studio recording session Doug was involved with before his death. The simple, acoustic sound lends a down-home feel as if it were recorded on his front porch, and the title cut blends nice slide guitar and harmonica for a real country feel. On “Wise To The Ways” he returns to his roots with this tale of learning the hard way, and the old school gospel tune “Parson Brown” is a fitting tribute to some long-gone grass-roots preacher. Some real soul-searching goes into “This Is How The Lost Get Found” with a tent revival feel and great mandolin-picking, and the old-school sound of “Pharaoh’s Army Got Drowned”  carries a chant and call that gives it a classic feel. A song that will resonate locally is “Highway 105”, his ode to a girlfriend he’s going to see and how he better “slow down” so the cops don’t get him. This is a great group of songs that will give you a good feeling and maybe a little religion too. Find him at www.great-recordings.com

Chelsea Hotel -Looking For Tango - Starlight Records - Our old friends are back with a vengeance, and the best Punk band in the county holds true to their roots with a pounding, consistent group of original punk songs to keep the genre alive for the hard-core fans that still worship this form of music and the hard-working bands that strive to keep the faith. Thank goodness for these guys (and gal). The band is Robert Conn on guitar/vocals, Jewels on bass/vocals, Curtis DeGidio on guitar/vocals and Andy Chaos on drums. Right out of the chute, “Stop Breakin’ My Balls” will jar your teeth and make you sit up and take notice, and “These Are The Day” is a hard-driving tune with crazy guitar licks, while TCBY (Shouldn’t Be That Way) has a Social D sound with layered guitars and gutsy vocals. Off the wall, “That Pig Won’t Fly” features straight-ahead, screaming guitars and a tongue-in-cheek message, while the title cut is a rowdy guitar-driven anthem. “Austin” is their take on a Lair Matic song and they do it justice with their own twist, and the cover of “Her Name Was Jane” is a ballsy, gut-busting version with teeth-jarring axe grinding.  My favorite cut, “Worth More” comes out swinging, lots of incredible guitar and a fantastic beat and lyrics, while the final cut,  “Six And Change” takes us out with a bang. Never a dull moment for the whole disc. Highly recommended and lots of fun.

Bruce Robison - Eleven Stories - Sustain  Records -  This six foot, seven inch Texas musician is a master songwriter and brings his talent to bear on this wonderful collection. Reading his “song by song” comments were as much fun as listening to the music. “Days Gone By” is a ballad about homeless people, and “All Over But The Cryin’” is a tear-jerker about breaking up. Another telling tale is “Don’t Call It Love”, written from the point of view of a woman, and “I Never Fly” is his song about dreams and what they mean. While most of the songs are originals, his cover of the Grateful Dead’s “Tennessee Jed” is a real pleaser, and his duet with wife Kelly Willis of Webb Pierce’s “More And More” takes you back to the dance halls of West Texas in year’s gone by. The tongue-in-cheek two-stepper “You Really Let Yourself Go” spells out the heartbreak while you cruise around the dance floor. His acoustic “Kitchen Blues” adds a nice element and was written when he was thinking about his old friends and what they were doing now, and the classic “Bandera Waltz” closes the album with a flair. There’s a lot to like here, and I highly recommend it. Visit the web site at: www.sustainrecords.com

Mark Wills - Looking For America  - Starlight Records - Mark Wills is back with this new record and this is a great album for songs to honor the brave men and women defending our country and fighting for our freedom. The album’s opening track, “Rockin’ the Country,” starts with the screaming guitar riff and the clever lyrics (“like Haggard with a swagger / like Jagger with a twang”), and it sounds like a crossover hit. The title cut, “Looking for America,” is a nostalgic trip back to the way things used to be. The world is scary place these days with murders and high unemployment numbers. Where are those factories that employed so many people, allowing men to provide for their families? The signature cut, “Crazy Being Home” is a patriotic song about a young soldier who comes home and has trouble adjusting to everyday life after having been gone for so long and the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. It is a true tribute to the sacrifice these men and women make for us each and every day. There is a song called “Phantom of the Opry”, about the spirit of the Opry that every person that stands on that stage can feel, when you step foot into that wooden circle taken from the original stage of the Opry’s former home, the Ryman Auditorium. He goes on to sing “Some say it’s Hank or Lefty, or that Kentucky bluebird flying back again. No one knows for certain. We all know it’s more than just the wind.” This song is one of those retro ballads that put you back in the 40’s or 50’s in any dance hall or honky tonk in the South. He really brings his talents to the table with this outstanding release. Find him at www.markwills.com.

Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers - Rare Bird Alert - Rounder Records - For those of you who don’t  remember Steve playing the banjo on some of his early TV appearances, this may come as a surprise. This collaboration from Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers is one that will put a smile on your face and get your foot tapping as you take in this great release. When a celebrity takes side roads in their career, the result is not always good, especially when change is from a comedian and actor to the music industry. Thankfully, Martin’s switch to music with the release of his second album, offering some of the finest, purest bluegrass around, comes with a cool dose of soul. He is a master banjo player, and with the Rangers and their seriously talented musicians, with wangling banjos, delighful strings and sweet harmonies, it is country bluegrass with a modern twist, with traditional instruments and adding a taste of humor that is a treat for the ears. From start to finish this plays smoothly, with every track giving a little different sound from the last and a hearty chuckle as well. The album includes musical treats like “The Great Remember” highlighting their talents. Each song is catchy and full of life. making it hard to choose a favorite. Musical guests like the Dixie Chicks featured on the memorable, “You”, and Paul McCartney’s guest vocals on “Best Love” bring a special quality to an already spectacular record. A standout track,“Atheists Don’t Have No Songs”, is a seriously funny atheists hymnal in the style of a gospel track, and probably the highlight of the album. Male vocal harmonizing alone is one of the outstanding attributes, along with spectacular instrumentals. This is one of the best albums this year and I guarantee you will get a big kick out of it. Find them at www.stonecanyon.com.

Ray Kelton - Never Gona change - Self-Produced - Some younger brothers are able to overcome the celebrity of their older siblings (like Stevie Ray and JimmieVaughn), and Ray is making his first attempt to follow in the footsteps of “Mean” Gene Kelton, who sadly left us late last year. To overcome some of Gene’s fame, Ray has posted some humorous and semi-factual items on his web site. “First rumor, I was born the youngest son of an 18 year old hillbilly girl and a bootlegger daddy in the backseat of a Studebaker doing 100 miles per hour down the highway in NE Mississippi. Answer: Somewhat true, I think we were only doing 90 but I really don’t remember much about it.” He goes on to describe his involvement as: “At an early age I did become interested in music and at first wanted to play a popular instrument at the time, a jazz organ. After becoming tired of trying to get music out of a much less expensive air powered organ and watching my older brother Gene playing an acoustic guitar, I decided to give it a shot.  At long last and many broken hearts later, I am proud to be able to release my very first album. My only hope is to become wildly rich and famous so I can afford a small sailing vessel just big enough for me and 27 of my very closest friends.” Well, if you’ll invite me along, we can have some real fun. Ray comes out swinging with a gritty country cut, “Honky Tonk Refugee”, a sawdust floor two-stepper, then moves to a slow ballad “A Love Like Ours” and the dreamy love story, “It’s You”. The title cut takes a nostalgic trip to all the mistakes we make in our lives and our regrets for them, and “4.20 Break” is the anthem to all stoners in general. Joining Ray is Gene on guitar and harmonica. Overall a nice debut, and we hope to see Ray out and about playing soon. Find him at www.raykelton.com.

Folk Family Revival - Unfolding  - Magnolia Red - With what seems like a never ending stream of Texas country/rock bands dominating the local band scene, along comes a new young band that by taking a step back, actually takes a couple of steps forward. With their first CD Unfolding, Folk Family Revival returns to the roots of song writing as art, as opposed to catchy, “hell yes!” cliché that is so prevalent in Texas songwriting today. With lyrics from lead singer Mason Lankford, this literal band of brothers all contribute to a sound that blends elements of folk, rock, country, blues and even bluegrass. It has been awhile since I have heard a local product that sustains quality from beginning to end like Unfolding does.

     The title track kicks things off with a spiritual, but not preachy tone. Double levels of meaning can be often heard in Masons’ lyrics, allowing the listener to follow his own chosen path. “Come Get Me”, ‘Shade from the Storm” (with a great hook in the chorus) and “Mountains” (a rousing jam song that I wish had more of an extended instrumental jam, both on the record and when the band performs it live) are the most obvious examples of this writing style. “Fallin’” even drifts into the old gospel standard “I’ll Fly Away” for a moment.

     We also get a couple of country angst-filled love songs in “Have a Nice Life” and “Holding You Now”. “Chasing a Rabbit” has a Bob Dylan feel set to a haunting instrumental vibe. “Thinkin’ Out Loud” is a nifty, raise-a-beer sing along and “Ye of Little Faith” is a nice blue grass style foot tapper that closes out the album. “Addicted to the Road” is the closest drift towards the plentiful “Texas” songs, but is thankfully more Reckless Kelly than Pat Green.

     Folk Family Revival members are all in their early twenties, which would surprise most listeners. Mason Lankford’s vocals are self-assured and fit this material like a glove. The song writing has a maturity and sense of thought and purpose that is rarely found in young musicians. The other members of the band, Lincoln Lankford (percussions), Barrett Lankford (bass) and Caleb Pace (guitar), have all played for many years together and the fact that there have undoubtedly been many family jams well into the night means this band is tight and professional. Although I have no problem with the album’s production, do yourself a favor and see Folk Family Revival play live. There will be a CD Release Party on Saturday, July 9 at Dosey Doe. The CD will be available on July 12 at www.folkfamilyrevival.com. By Craig Jones

Rhonda Townes - I Wanna Be Loved By You - Dawn Records - The daughter of Reverend and Mrs. James Towns, Rhonda’s first musical influence was the music that filled the church. Early in life she began singing and by the time she graduated from high school, she was known as the entertainer. During college she pursued vocal training and sang in the gospel choir. Now she has a career of her own, and this release highlights the beautiful voice and talent of this vocalist. Described as traditional country with a modern flair, it was co-produced by Harold Shedd (Reba McIntire), Norro Wilson (George Jones) and Jim Cotton (Billy Ray Cyrus) and the professional quality of their help shows. The opening track, “Somethin’ Better” is a radio-ready single that brings out the twang in her voice that makes a country song seem real. The title track also brings the clarity of her vocals into perspective. Her smooth voice and obvious class act should prove to be a hit with country music fans who hear this. This is a very satisfying effort and it is most enjoyable. Find out more about her at the web site www.rhondatowns.com.

By Dave Miller

The Stone Coyotes - I Couldn't Find You  - Red Cat Records - Our good friends have done it again. The little old band from Massachusetts, Barbara Keith on guitar/vocals, Doug Tibbles on drums & John Tibbles on bass continue to crank out their amazing three-chord rock-n-roll that has earned them a devoted group of fans here and across the world. From the opening cut “I Can Hear You”, with it’s screeching riffs and pleading for help to the last chord of “The Palace Of The King” with the lament of lost royalty, they bring some of the best rockers and ballads they have done so far. With a nod to the current Vampire craze, they offer a tale of a “bona-fide red neck” “Blood-Suckin’ Son Of A Gun” about a love story gone bad, and  “My Horses Were Gone” is a lament to the hard times ranchers face trying to keep going. My personal favorite is the tear-jerker ballad “Memory Lane” about a man drinking himself to death to join his lost love, who died in a tragic car wreck, with the classic line “a man on dry land is just about to drown, amid the empty bottles on the floor”, probably one of the saddest songs I’ve ever heard, but a gem of a song that begs a repeat listen. The title cut is a toe-tapper that will jar you from your seat for a dance or two, with great tongue-in-cheek lyrics about finding a lost love, and it keeps rockin’ on “Throwin’ Off Sparks” about low riders on Hollywood Boulevard and the characters that dwell there, like “Crazy Mary and Peggy Sue” who “glow in the dark”. The bluesy cut “The Bluebirds Don’t Sing Here Anymore” is a classic “Crossroads” tale of lost chances and “ball and chains” in the purest Delta tradition, and “Before We Go” is a hard-driving anthem to live it up and “rock before we go”, which is exactly what they are doing. You gotta love this stuff. Very highly recommended. Find them at www.stonecoyotes.com

John Paul Keith - The Man That Time Forgot - Big Legal Mess Records - John Paul Keith grew up outside of Knoxville, the son of a truck driver. He learned to sing in church and he learned to play guitar when he was ten and his father gave him an acoustic and a copy of Chuck Berry’s Golden Hits and The Best of B.B. King. It was the first music he ever heard that wasn’t country or spirituals - he didn’t hear the Beatles until he was nearly in high school. By the time he was seventeen, he was drawing big crowds in Knoxville as a member of the Viceroys, and then quit the band when they signed an indie deal because he didn’t like the direction the music was headed. By twenty-one, he had moved to Nashville and formed his own band, and got signed to a major label within months. It was a meteoric rise by a kid everyone in the industry had their eyes on - and wanted their hooks in. This latest release of his takes him to a whole new level, with well-written lyrics and a cast of players that give it a polished sound and great production values. Opening cut “Never Could Say No” has a nice retro feel, with a Buddy Holly beat and lyrics that could have been written in the 50’s, and the bouncy ballad “You Devil You” will put a smile on your face, and the rockabilly-style “Anyone Can Do It” is a foot-stomping cut with great guitar riffs. The more mellow “Songs For Sale” has a reggae beat and doo-wop crooning, and “Afraid To Look” has a Rolling Stones style thread and dueling guitar and organ breaks, while the title cut uses reverb to accentuate the old time country sound and really makes the point. Then he hits the nail on the head with “Dry County”, an ode to the odd custom of banning alcohol sales, and the cry-in-your beer ballad “The Last Last Call” is a fitting finale to this fine set of tunes. His clear vocals and the clever use of instrumentation make this one of the better releases I’ve heard this year. Check him out and I think you’ll agree. Find him at www.johnpaulkeith.net

Cordero - En Este Momento  - This Brooklyn-based quartet consisting of Ani Corderon (vocals, guitar and percussion), Omar Little (trumpet), Eric Eble (bass) and Chris Verene (drums) is equally at home in the New York art rock scene or the Rock en Espanol movement, but their south-of-the border ballads and rave-ups combine to have you  crying in your beer or up shaking to the beat. The opening title track sets the pace as a Spanish flavor, but by “Come On Dear”, the punkish hip-shaker, you’re not sure where this is going. But better than ever, you don’t care. You’re in for the ride, so just sit back and enjoy it. The Tucson, Arizona native blends her sensual Latin roots with an edgier rock side that combines to make a salsa that’s easy to digest. The rock-tinged “Close Your House Down” shows her edgier side and the nice touch of Omar’s trumpet gives it enough of a roots feel to blend in with the rest of the tunes, as does his playing on “Gone With A Gamble”. The dreamy Latino ballad, “Matadora” takes her back to her roots, as does “La Piedra” and the upbeat Latino flamenco-style “Maria Elisa” also show her origins. Her vocals soar and the band bring a spicy mix of musical styles to produce an eclectic picante sauce that’s sure to please. They will be in Houston this month, so check them out. Visit the web site at: www.bloodshotrecords.com

Israel Nash Gripka - Barn Doors and Concrete Floors  - Self-Produced - Gripka uses his upbringing as the son of a southern Baptist minister to format the interesting stories he weaves about drinking and praying, drifting from churches to county jails, and from sadness to redemption; his songs are stories that serve to excite you like classic Rock N’ Roll should do all while writing and singing with his Americana roots, complete with the simple roots of soul trampled country, and gospel choirs. In an attempt to escape the complicated and too clean recording methods of most releases, Israel sought the simple sounds of the countryside to record a more down-to-earth sound. In the heart of an old and dusty hay barn, nestled deep in the Catskill Mountains, Gripka, along with co-producer/drummer Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth) and a group of friends, created this group of songs with a more simple feel. The vision was to have a studio that wasn’t a studio at all, to capture sounds that no other place could create. In short, the idea was to create an environment where nothing else really mattered except the gathering of friends making music in the simplest of settings. They succeeded beyond all hopes, as this creation truly ranks with the likes of “Big Pink” and “May The Circle Be Unbroken” as a gathering of friends and musicians coming together to preserve for posterity the heaven-sent sounds of heart-felt feelings and musical talent. Gripka tends to sound like Mick Jagger on moonshine, and many of the cuts resemble the Stones few memorable country style cuts like “Sweet Virginia” and “Far Way Eyes”. But enough of the comparisons, Israel’s strong vocals are to die for, and the arrangements are some of the best I’ve ever heard. The powerful, moving “Louisiana” lets him pours his heart and soul into this gospel-tinged anthem, and “Baltimore” is an epic ballad of questioning faith and finding the true meaning of what we’re supposed to be focusing on, truly two highlights of the songs included here. Be sure to check him out online, and let’s hope he finds his way to Texas for a show this year. Very highly recommended. Find him at www.israelgripka.com 

Tim Larson and The Owner/Operaters - A New Deal - Self-Produced - Tim was born and raised on the south side of Chicago, in a working man’s family and actually belongs to the Operating Engineers union where he is classified as an owner/operator in the asphalt industry, thus the band’s name. He learned his musical talents as a teen and has been in several bands, but this time he has found his niche. The songs deal with the blue-collar working-man’s plight, on a ground-level view, from a worker looking at the economy and layoffs from a close-up feel for what’s really happening. With a sparse, alt-country sound, he moves from tale to tale, with “Merit Worker” telling of union workers forced to take non-union jobs to make ends meet, and “Panther #37” relates to an out-of-work carpenter, homeless and living under a bridge. “Own To Rent” is a dismal view of the human toll taken by the mortgage crisis, and “Happy Time Coke Party” tells the sad tale of trying to find solace in any escape you can. The songs reflect stories he hears on the job and from friends, neighbors and co-workers, the backbone of American workers and he puts their stories into sad but brutally honest tales of broken promises and the toll the recession has taken on the average American. But don’t take that as a warning, this is not a dismal group of songs, but more like a celebration of workers and their past glories, and a hopeful glimpse into what can still lie ahead if things turn around. Give them a listen and I think you’ll like what you hear. Find them at www.theowneroperators.com

Little Ray & the Blues Sonics - Going Back to Eunice  - Great Recordings - I first met this talented musician when I judged a Houston Blues Society contest at Cactus Moon. They easily won the competition and I became a fan. Little Ray Ybarra goes back to his Louisiana roots with this one, thus the title cut, a bouncy, boogie-woogie swinger that gets down to his swamp pop roots. When you get to “All Of My Life” and “We Will Carry On” you’ll be hooked. These are the best ballads I’ve heard in years and should become standards on every juke joint jukebox in the south. They’re down and dirty belly-rubbing, soul-searching songs that will get the crowds dancing. Ray either wrote or co-wrote most of the songs with the exception of Aaron Neville’s “Zing Zing” and “I’m A Fool To Care”, two good choices for this Southern Louisiana gumbo. Quite appropriate is the choice of “Gumbo” Phil Daigle, noted DJ at Eunice’s world-famous radio station KBON (of which I’m a regular supporter for their streaming audio) to sing several cuts, including “Power of the People”, another nitty-gritty blues rocker. Other vocalists include Matt Farrell, Paul Orta and Richard Earl. This is a lagniappe (lahn-yahp) of Louisiana blues and swamp pop that will make you want to listen over and over. Very highly recommended. Go listen to KBON  (www.kbon.com) and see what I mean, as they’re playing a lot of cuts there. Find out more about him at the web site, at  www.Great-Recordings.com

Smoking Popes - This Is Only A Test  - Asian Man Records - The Smoking Popes are a Chicago based band that came on the scene in 1991, recording a few albums on local labels before being picked up by Capitol Records in 1995 and re-releasing an earlier album Born To Quit, that became a good selling release. In 1997, the Smoking Popes released Destination Failure, which many consider to be their defining masterpiece. This album challenged the idea of what a pop punk band could do, with songwriting that didn’t always adhere to the typical progressions and lyrics that told tales of love and longing with details of broken hearts and lost chances. Smoking Popes were one of the first bands to take love and wrap it in a wave of bouncy drumbeats and explosive guitar riffs. This new release has songs that explore doubts about college, musical aspirations, love and teen suicide. The band consists of singer/guitarist/songwriter Josh Caterer, Eli Dixon Caterer on guitar/vocals, Matt Caterer on bass/vocals and Neil Hennessy on drums/vocals. The story doesn’t unfold like a narrative. Josh says “It’s more like a collage. Each song is a snapshot from this kid’s life. The songs were written to stand alone.” Whatever the intention, these are some cool songs and the band’s own unique way of putting it all together really works. I think you’ll get a kick out of this release.  Find them at www.smokingpopes.net.

Tresa Street - Baby It's You - A.M.I.  Records - This southern girl writes, sings and performs, but don’t try to peg her as strictly a country artist. As a writer, she writes Country, Pop & Blues songs, but she also writes Christian/Gospel & Bluegrass songs too. This album shows her versatility very well, from the standard title cut “Baby It’s You” to the Bruce Springsteen tune “Fire”, and the Norman Petty song that Buddy Holly made famous “Oh Boy” with a few country cuts like “Last Light” and “Love Rules” thrown in the mix. Her beautiful voice and the excellent musicians on this collection bring a touch of class to the arrangements. There are three originals including “A Man Like You” and “What’s It Gonna Take”, a bouncy tune that features some stinging guitar licks. The final cut, also an original, is “Everytime I Think It’s Over” is my favorite, a tear-jerker, cry-in-your-beer song that deserves radio play. This album is a re-release of a 1996 album that had been out of print. I’m glad they went to the trouble, because this is an excellent group of songs done in her own unique style and deserves to be heard. Visit her at: www.wildfirepublicity.net.

Amy Black - One Time - Reuben Records - Singer-songwriter Amy Black has released her sophomore album, a rootsy collection of revealing and authentic tunes as a traditional American roots sound but it’s not without a dash of rock and soul. Many of the songs have a bluegrass feel, or at least a roots/hillbilly style with mandolin, dobro and fiddle to give it a backwoods feel. Amy’s powerful voice is matched by the well-written songs as seen in the nine originals on the album. The characters in “Molly” and “Whiskey And Wine” ache with pleasure and pain. “All My Love” simmers with seduction, while “Meet Me On The Dance Floor” is a sparkly two-stepper. “Stay”, featuring harmony vocals by Amy’s little sister Corrie Jones, swings with grown-up romance and “Run Johnny” crackles with a bluesy feeling like her Alabama roots. In the album’s potent title track, “One Time,” the lyric “Time for you to make a break/And show what you’re good for” could describe Black’s bold step with this new release. Her cover of Loretta Lynn’s “”You Ain’t Woman Enough (to Take my Man)” really takes a bluegrass feel, rather than the hard country take that Lynn did. Other covers include Kris Delmhorts’ “Words Fail You” and “Ain’t No Grave (Gonna Hold My Body Down)”, an older song covered by Johnny Cash years ago. This is a well-done release and her fine voice does justice to the thought-provoking lyrics she has written. Be sure to check this out. Find her at www.amyblack.com.

Eddie Spaghetti - Sundowner  - Bloodshot Records - Everybody knows that when they need a party, they can count on Eddie Spaghetti, Supersucker Soul Brother Number One, to bring it on. Always in center stage for thousands of shows across the land, Eddie’s learned how to bring the party out in all of us. And Sundowner, Eddie’s third solo album and first for his longtime fans at Bloodshot, shows how it is done. Sundowner proves that you can cross the lines between hard rock and hard country, with the result being a kick in the ass and some damn good music. The eclectic mix of covers, including C&W stars like Dave Dudley (“Cowboy Boots”) and Johnny Cash (“What Do I Care”) can go well next to punk rock snots like the Dwarves (“Everybody’s Girl”), or that trucker song legend Del Reeves (“Girl On the Billboard”) and cult heroes The Lee Harvey Oswald Band (“Jesus Never Lived On Mars”) can share the stage and not offend anyone (well almost). He also dares to takes on Dean Martin’s self-styled lounge lizard standard “Party Dolls and Wine” and does it like no one has ever done it. He also added songs by some friends that he has recorded with over the years: Willie Nelson (the ever mellow “Always On My Mind”) and Steve Earle (the calming “If You Fall in Love”), and were done, as he says, “because it was ‘fun to put a little ‘Spaghetti’ on them’.”  By adding a few originals, Eddie leaned on some pop material without making it sound sissy-fied, with some nice harmonies on the title track or the sawdust-floored barroom sound of “Marie.” The opening track, “Never Thought I Would,” sets the pace, with its hit-the-road theme. There’s a lot of well-done material and it’s getting lots of airplay on XM’s Outlaw Country Channel 12 as we cruise the country. Get your boots on and check this out. Find him at www.bloodshotrecords.com/album.

Rich DelGrosso & Jonn Del Toro Richardson - Time Slips On By - Houston area blues fans won’t be as surprised as many others that Rich and his mandolin are co-stars on this release, with guitar ace Richardson with his fiery licks putting the icing on the cake. The mix produces one of the finest and most impressive blues releases I’ve had the opportunity to review in some time. By using other star musicians, like Carl Owens (Shadowcasters) on drums, Ed Starkey (Mean Gene Kelton) on bass, Joel Guzman (Joe Ely and many others), Sonny Boy Terry on harp, The Texas Horns of Mark “Kaz” Kazanoff on tenor sax, John Mills on baritone sax and Al Gomez on trumpet, and Nick Connolly on keyboards, they have ensured that the quality is top-notch. While the bulk of the songs are upbeat, like opener “Baby Do Wrong” and “She’s Sweet” with Rich using a vintage Gibson mandola to give those cuts a unique touch and “Shotgun Blues” with the horns giving it a Bayou City touch, they also have some belly-rubbing slow cuts that will let you take a turn around the dance floor, like “Katalin” and “Hard To Live With” with Jonn’s vintage Silvertone making it a mellow ballad. Nick’s honky-tonk piano on “A Gig Is A Gig” gives a barrel-house feel as the rhythm section keeps the beat and Jonn’s stinging guitar licks transform this to a classic rocker. Joel’s accordion adds the Tejano flavor to the mellow “Summertime Is Here”, and Nick’s B-3 gives “The Real Deal” that extra spice to jazz it up. The grinding feel of “Mandolin Man” with screaming harp and hot licks stands out as a Chicago Southside rocker, while “Good Rockin’ Johnny” lets Rich shine as a soloist. The guys swap off on vocals, but both are strong vocalists and the combo of tingly mandolin and rockin’ guitar give this a timeless feel. I was blown away by the quality of the original tunes and the great arrangements. You should love this as much as I did. Find them at www.madolinblues.com and www.deltoroblues.wordpress.com.

Justin Trevino - Too Many Heartaches - Heart of Texas Records - This talented young singer-songwriter has his heart in the old time traditional country music. A backup group of excellent musicians including Dicky Overbey on steel guitar provide the sound that takes you back to the old Saturday night dance halls of yesterday. Even though he recently wrote and recorded these songs, it sounds like an album from the 1950’s. Out of 12 songs, no less than three have “Honky Tonk” in the title. The opening cut, “Texas Honky Tonk” sets the pace, and in “Tonight She Hits The Honky Tonks Again” you’ll surely shed a tear for this broken heart story, then on “Honky Tonk Atmosphere” he takes a philosophical approach to his woman leaving him. All songs but three are originals, and his songwriting ability shines on all of them, leaning heavily on the sadder side of heartbreak, cheating and drinking, like country music should. Of the covers, on Justin Tubb’s “Love Is No Excuse” he sings a duet with Pretty Miss Norma Jean that will put a chill in your spine, and his duet with Darrell McCall on the Faron Young classic “Face To The Wall” is another trip back in time. His superb voice takes cuts like “The End” and “I Turn To The Wine” to another level and “Forbidden Love” is a classic cheatin’ song. Several of his songs have recently been covered by such artists as Leona Williams (“Don’t Leave The Leaving Up To Me”) and Jake Hooker (“The End”), and that’s a good indication that his music will make a lasting impression on country music. Make sure you get a copy of this CD, probably the best young artist of his genre in Texas. Find out more about him at the web site, at www.hillbillyhits.com.

Mark Chesnutt - Outlaw  - Saguaro Road Records - Beaumont born country artist Mark Chesnutt made his mark in 1990 with his first release and has earned a reputation as one of the hottest acts in country music. He has 14 number one hits, 23 top ten singles, four platinum albums, five gold records and tours regularly. Noted music critic Robert K. Obermann says “Mark Chesnutt gave honky-tonk music back its soul” after his debut in 1990 and called him a “hillbilly messiah”, and continues his praise to this day. This latest release is all covers of some of Mark’s favorite country classics and it reflects his admiration for these tunes. Opening with Billy Joe Shavers’ 1973 song “Black Rose”, he puts his own spin on this Texas favorite, as in “the devil made me do the first time, the second time I done it on my own”, and right away he switches to a mellow mood on the Guy Clark song that Jerry Jeff Walker made famous in 1973, “Desperadoes Waiting For A Train”.  He has three Waylon Jennings cuts on the disc, starting with the 1968 era “Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line” and the Neil Young penned cut that Waylon recorded in 1972, “Are You Ready For The Country”, then the 1973 hit “Freedom To Stay”. He slows it down as he does a splendid duet with Amber Digby on the Shel Silverstein written song from 1978, “A Couple More Years” then does justice to Kris Kristofferson’s 1970 hit “Sunday Morning Comin’ Down”. He comes back swinging with David Allen Coe’s 1987 hit, “Need A Little Time Off For Bad Behavior” with the drawl that makes this real, then he takes a Willie Nelson standard, “Bloody Mary Morning” and makes a real Texas two-stepper out of it. He pays tribute to Hank Williams, Jr. with his 1979 hit, “Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound” with lots of fine pedal steel giving it a dance hall sound, and his 1986 hit “Country State of Mind”. This is a great collection of country favorites that Mark gives a new spin to. It’s a lot of fun to listen to and I think you’ll enjoy it. Find him at Find it at www.markchesnutt.com.

Sometymes Why - Your Heart Is A Glorius Machine - Signature Sounds Records - Three amazing female musicians, Aoife O’Donovan, Kristin Andreassen, and Ruth Ungar Merenda, together known as Sometymes Why, have released their sophomore record, building on the success of their self-titled release in 2006. The seductive songs offered on their newest release continues to widen the spell cast on audiences since Sometymes Why’s inception in 2004. This album picks up where the debut recording left off musically, and the trio’s vocal blend is impressive. What began as casual harmonies, Sometymes Why has grown into a band all their own, modern sirens taking audiences on a thrilling ride the globe over. The CD also showcases the maturity in these vibrant women in the midst of a folk revival. The members, both as a group and individually, have inspired a loyal following. Each of the women play a major role in other contemporary folk and bluegrass bands: Crooked Still (O’Donovan), Uncle Earl (Andreassen) and The Mammals (Merenda). The collaboration makes Sometymes Why a supergroup to those who have been paying attention to the recent folk movement. Songs like “Aphrodisiaholic”, about things that turn you on (like chocolate) and “Slow Down”, about touring and getting worn out, tell personal tales of their experiences. Their cover of Concrete Blondes’ “Joey” rings true, and “Diamond” came about after purchasing some cowboy boots, and began as an ode to diamonds and a shotgun, but they dropped the shotgun. The bouncy “Cold Feet Blues” refers to making hard choices, The title cut came about after being snowbound for 2 days and hanging with some local hippies, and it’s a surreal sound that defines the whole album. Very nice stuff here, and I highly recommend it. Find them at www.yellowcarmusic.com/sometymeswhy.

The Detroit Cobras - Baby - Bloodshot Records - This came as a surprise to me, as Bloodshot’s usual offerings are more alt-country oriented. But when the first cut, “Slipping Around” came on, I really perked up. The band consists of Rachel Nagy on vocals, Mary Ramirez on guitar, Steve Nawara on guitar, Joe Mazzola on bass, and Kenny Tudrick on drums. Their eclectic mix of older covers, like Naomi Neville’s “It’s Raining” (one of the best swamp-rock ballads ever written), Bert Russell’s “Baby Let Hold Your Hand” and Steve Cropper/Isaac Hayes “Weak Spot” take these to a new level. When they rock the whole place is jumping and you will too. The only original cut, “Hot Dog/Watch Me Eat” leaves little to the imagination. Their cover of Allen Toussaint’s “Mean Man” is a retro soulful piece, and Rachel does the real deal on Billie Jean Horton’s “Just Can’t Please You”. Their smoky, barroom brawling screamers leave you wanting more, and when she howls out “The Real Thing” you have to believe her. Her take on Bobby Womack’s “Baby Help Me” is a sock-hop flashback and the final cut, Hank Ballard’s “Cha Cha Twist” will have you twisting your ass off. The fact is, after hearing this, I went online and bought all three of their full-length albums. They were at Rudyard’s last week, and I wish we had been in town. I’ll be there the next time they are around. You gotta hear this! One of the best CD’s I’ve heard this year! Find out more about them at the web site, at www.blooshotrecords.com.

Danbert Nobacon & the Bad Things - Woebegone - Verbal Burlesque Records - Agitprop musician/writer/social critic/actor Danbert Nobacon is back with a new album this fall. Backed by Seattle’s gypsy punks The Bad Things, he recorded a song cycle called Woebegone. Nobacon’s work with the anarchist punk rock band Chumbawamba is now legendary: after their worldwide hit “Tubthumper” was released in 1997, they used their new pop fame to spread their anarchic beliefs in interviews and appearances.  ‘Woebegone’ is a fictional musical noir tracking the early years of Johnny Woebegone and Lilithiana Red, through songs of oil, sex, death with an otherworldliness we cannot quite put our finger on. Set in the rapidly decaying world of the mid-2020s, with Nobacon in character as Woebegone, the album charts yet to be discovered hidden depths. The pairing Nobaconian lounge noir and other country blues, with the majesty of The Bad Things’ junkyard cabaret provides a musical feast for delinquents and degenerates everywhere. Not one to stray from his provocative reputation as an imaginative and thought-provoking anarchist, he brings an amazing group of stories to this effort. Accompanied by a booklet with the lyrics, he adds his thoughts and it amounts to nearly 24 pages of interesting reading. At first listen, his growling vocals raise an eyebrow, but give it time and it grows on you. Opening cut “Other Country Blues” has almost a bluegrass feel, with plunking banjo, and cuts like “The Devil In You” and “We Got Married In A Frenzy” help weave the tale as he moves through the rest of the story. Well worth a listen, this is quite an unusual release but, as I said, it grows on you after a listen or two. Find him at www.danbertnobacon.com

Rob Blackledge - Inside These Walls - One Revolution Records -  Poised to join the world of professional athletes as an accomplished baseball player with scholarship offers and interest from the Marlins, Braves, and Astros, among others, Rob decided instead to have his voice heard and his music shared. After graduating high school, he chose a school in Music City to nurture and polish his raw songwriting talents. Whether on guitar or piano, Blackledge’s fresh Southern voice shines and his lyrics dig deep, especially evidenced on the ten tracks featured on this debut. His mellow vocals and good backup musicians make this a smooth listen. From the radio-friendly pop lament “Should’ve Known Better” to the emotionally driven “Everything,” Blackledge shows off his innate sense of melody, passionate vocals and musicianship. “Sweet, Sweet Lady” finds the artist invoking his Mississippi blues influences, while “Granola Girl” is a tender ode to his bride to be, wrapped in the sultry blanket of a simple, yet effective reggae groove. With the socially conscious ballad “Our World,” Blackledge implores listeners to create a collective movement towards compassion for all that surrounds us. He brings a fresh feel to subjects often written about and the arrangements are immaculate. Look for big things from this newcomer. Highly recommended.  Find him at www.robblackledge.com

Graham Parker - Songs of No Consequence - Bloodshot Records - For you rockers who grew up listening to Graham Parker and The Rumour in the mid 1970’s when he burst on the music scene with his protopunk “Howlin’ Wind” in 1976, remember when the bands’ classic 1979 release, “Squeezing Out Sparks,” cemented their position as one of Britain’s top live acts and ensured sell out concerts on their seemingly endless world tours. This new effort thirty years later is incredible, with some of the best songs I’ve heard this year with great lyrics, beat and vocals to die for. He used The Figgs, a three-piece rock band he has known since they formed in the early 1990’s in New York. “Bad Chardonnay” is one of the best rock songs and “She Swallows It” has a slightly misleading title, (it’s about lying to her, so get your mind out of the gutter). The mind-scrambling “Dislocated Life” is about all the mixed messages we get every day, and another double-meaning song “Suck And Blow” let’s you use your imagination to decide where he’s going with it, but it’s one of the best sounding songs of the bunch. His sharp commentary “There’s Nothing On The Radio” relates that “I don’t want those whiny chicks, I don’t want those cardboard country hicks”, a well-deserved condemnation of the current state of radio in our country. The hip-shaking “Go Little Jimmy” is a tale about a “blues harmonica kid” and the hottest track, and the rocker “Local Boys” sounds like Dave Edmunds at his best, with a beat that shakes your world, and some great guitar licks. The final cut must be about me, “Did Everybody Just Get Old” is an ode to how we all got older and changed, with “play a little softer will ya, those amplifiers’ll kill ya” as it’s theme. It’s interesting that he is still as sharp as ever, and maybe better than ever. This is certainly a hidden gem and I urge you to seek this out. Find it at www.bloodshotrecords.com

The JB Bullion Band - A Drunk Hillbilly "Live" - Self-Produced - The band featured on this month’s cover brings us their second album. With the usual suspects, J.B. on guitar/vocals, Lance Gremillion on guitar/vocals, Eddie Garcia on bass, Pat Glass on drums and Shannon Gremillion on vocals and percussion, they added Edison Freeman on keyboards and Jimmy Rose on timbales and cowbell for this live recording at Texas Rock Tavern last May. Mixed and mastered by Frank Kupal, who did all of the Joe’s Roadhouse shows for years with Smokin’ Joe Montes of KPFT radio, it has the polished sound that Frank is famous for. All of the songs except three are originals, penned by J.B. over the past few years and they accentuate what a brilliant songwriter he has become. The mournful tale “I’ll Be Here” weaves a story of getting fired from a gig, but is a truly beautiful ballad, and probably is my favorite of the ten songs here. The stinging slide guitar on “Ain’t No Business” opens the set with a bang and his breakup ode on “Baby We’re Through” has him taking a stand. A couple of tongue-in-cheek cuts include his tribute to a mean woman on “Trouble With A Capital T” and the title cut (inspired by country singer Don Leatherwood of Texas Roadcats fame) has gained some notoriety on You Tube. Shannon gets to moan the blues on “The Road” and “Friend” (from her and Lance’s previous album, with their band) and then J.B. takes us through some soulful ballads on “I Don’t Care” and “Sometimes”. They take a two-stepper stroll around the dance floor on “Here’s To Me”, a cutesy tear in your beer story. There’s plenty to like here and I hope you catch them at a live show at Just A Nice Place on FM 1488 and their CD release at Dan Electro’s on Friday Nov. 12. Check out the article on the band in this issue as well. Find them at www.JBBullionBand.com

2 Bit Palamino - 2 Bit Palamino  - Songdog Records - 2 Bit Palomino consists of Bill Ward, Ren Renfree and Andi Renfree, a trio of dedicated singer/songwriters who have discovered the rarely found combination of musical style, vocal blending, harmony and songwriting! Bill Ward is a well-known figure in the Texas Music arena and has played in the area for years.  I have reviewed two of his solo albums here in the past and am glad to hear from him again. He has released several albums worth of original material on SongDog Records and has acquired quite a following over the years. His passion is writing songs that have deep emotional meaning and performing them in environments where the listener can get the most out of his music. Ren and Andi are an up and coming duo living in the Houston, Texas area.  Andi and Ren have many recorded songwriting credits, inlcuding Andi’s co-write “Buffalo Grass” which was released on Chris LeDoux’s last studio album “Horsepower” on Capitol Records.  They perform in and around the Houston and Austin market and are gradually expanding their market territory. The smooth vocals and heartfelt stories make this an easy listen. The opening cut “Today I Am A Pirate” lets the Renfree duo ply their close harmonies, then we stop at “Whistlestop Cafe” where so many stories were born and then lost. Bill tells a cute tale on “Cowboys In Dallas” that will put a smile on your face, and then he reprises his Civil War story on “Sherman’s Chimneys”. Andi does a great solo job on “Run Girl Run”, “Only Daughter” and “Wings”, three pleasing ballads that highlight her lovely voice. Ballads like “Leavin’ California” and “Savannah” blend harmonies with stories of love and hope. The song that inspired the band’s name, “Two Bit Palomino” is Bill’s tribute to the horses of yesterday. “Boots And Dust And Dirt” is a lively country cut with some great guitar pickin’ and they finish with their hit “The Buffalo Grass”, a mournful tale of times past. Catch their CD release party at Fat Mikes at the Market on Stuebner Airline on November 6:00 at 6 p.m. Highly recommended. Find them at www.2BitPalomino.com

Jim and Jennie and The Pinetops - Rivers Roll On By - Bloodshot Records - Like a bolt out of the past, the lovely harmonies and pickin’ take us back to an era when folks sat on their porches and sang on Saturday night in the Kentucky hills. Jim Krewson grew up on hardcore punk and rock until he heard his dad’s Flatt & Scruggs recordings. Jennie Benford grew up in a bluegrass lovin’ family but was more into rock until she and Jim met in 1998. After meeting banjo prodigy Brad Hutchinson they set out to turn the world on to this vintage music by creating new forms to bring it into the 21st Century. Jennie’s plaintive vocals are the core of this lovely collection of mostly original tunes, ranging from a serious look at “Mt. St. Helens” with it’s “million tons of pressure underneath the stone” to the knee-slappin’ “Quit Barking At Me” with Jim howlin’ with the best banjo licks. Jennie’s original “The Poison Vine” highlights her writing and vocal abilities, and her wonderful take on “The Way It Is For Me” is one of the best cuts. Jim’s original “Cold Green Sea” could have been a sea-chanty from the whaling days of Nantucket. Their acapella cover of the vintage song “I Know You’re Married But I Love You Still” allows the best harmonies of the lot. Their traditional approach through heavy use of fiddle, banjos, mandolins and washboards with emphasis on solo vocals and dreamy harmonies make this a journey into the hills for an evening of bluegrass and folk music that you won’t soon forget. This is a modern take on a century of hoedown music that will leave you wanting more. Check them out at www.bloodshotrecords.com

Eilen Jewell - Sea of Tears  - Signature Sounds Recordings - Like a throwback to the music performed in a whiskey-soaked dance hall, the third record from Boston songwriter Eilen Jewell, Sea of Tears, is an honest story of a woman moving in and out of love. She pays homage to the British invasion of the sixties, bands like The Kinks and The Animals; her forlorn, yet confident, delivery matches slow rock and resonant guitar sounds all through the record. Although nine of the tracks are Jewell originals, the entire album could easily have been recorded forty years earlier. The album was recorded along with her touring band, a tried and true ensemble of Jewell, Jason Beek (drums, harmony vocals), Jerry Miller (electric, acoustic, and steel guitars), and Johnny Sciascia (upright bass). The rapport of years touring together along with the musical talent are album highlights; the support behind Jewell’s vocals augments her confident presentation and lets her heartfelt lyrics stand out against the backdrop. The four musicians merge to produce a tight swagger that cascades through the album. The title cut is a forlorn journey into the pain of lost love, “Fading Memory” is a sparse, emotional and haunting tune, while “One of Those Days” takes a swipe at the “meanest man I seen”, and the honky-tonk, two stepper “The Darkest Day” is a classic-sounding tear-jerker of the most heart-rending type. Very enjoyable. Find her at www.eilenjewell.com

Kevin Black - Sod Out - Live at  Dosey Doe - Red Tree Records - Recorded last year at Dosey Doe as a fundraiser for Rett Syndrome, it turned into a larger project than first imagined. But the end result is a 21 track CD with some of the best music Kevin has ever done, all in one package, from the opening track, “An American Trilogy” with it’s patriotic message, to originals like “That’s Life” and “Letting Go”, both with strong stories. His cover of Patsy Cline’s “Walkin’ After Midnight” (requested at the venue by his mom) is a stirring rendition, and the touching song “The Richest Man” by Floyd Callen will bring a tear to your eye. His son Coleton Black adds a nice touch with his song “To Forget About You”, then Kevin is back with a heart-rending duet with Coleton on Merle Haggard’s “Today I Started Loving You Again” that got a great response from the audience. His rendition of Dallas Frazier’s “Big Mable Murphy” added a humorous touch, as did Stan Rothman’s “Let’s Get Naked”. Back to more romantic feelings is “I Got This Thing About You” and “Wondering What It’s Like” (about long distance relationships). He gets Floyd Callen up for his beautiful ballad “You Saved The Best For Last”, then Kevin is back with “This Room I Rent”, a real tear-jerker with a real message. He finishes with The Eagles “Desperado” and Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless The U.S.A.”. This is a very well done CD and I know you’ll enjoy it. Check him out at www.kevinblack.com

Nora Jane Struthers - Nora Jane  Struthers  - Bloodshot Records - Every so often an artist comes along whose style, abilities and personality captures the true essence of a particular music genre. Nora Jane Struthers is such an artist. From the first note of her new, self-titled debut, listeners are drawn into a rare and memorable experience. Struthers, who has enjoyed success at some of the nation’s top music festivals, delivers an album filled with great imagery and personal storytelling, just two of her many strengths. Couple her pure voice and keen lyrics with innovative harmonies and first-rate players, and Struthers’ debut release is a delight. Combine Struthers’ unique sound with her vintage style, and the result is an homage to American roots, the very foundation about which she sings. Her songs sound as if they’ve been passed down from generation to generation. From her vintage cotton dresses to her brilliant red lips, Struthers is stunning and put together, the very way proud mid-Century women carried themselves once upon a time. Though she admits a strong Bluegrass influence, and the heavy emphasis on fiddle and mandolin, she insists it’s more just an influence than a style. Songs like “Thistle” and “Greenbrier County” have that traditional feel, but cuts like “Blight” and “Evelyn” feel more like classic country, along with the catchy “Cowgirl Yodel #3”, where she shows she can yodel with the best of them. Either way, it’s a pleasant listen and a welcome addition to the music collection. Highly recommended. Find her at www.norajanestruthers.com

Ziggy Moonshine & the Bootleggers - Music In the Key of Z - Moonshine Records - These local guys have earned a reputation as a party band and draw large crowds to their gigs. In the genre of Texas college bands and southern rock bands like Skynyrd and 38 Special, they have a rock-edged Texas country sound that sounds familiar, yet fresh and original. There’s a lot of emphasis on guns, whiskey, girls and parties, but in a good way. With Ziggy on guitar/vocals, Brad Blackwell on lead guitar, Larry McCoy on drums, and Tom Rogers on bass, they combine to produce a sound that will blow you away on some songs and soothe you on others. The laid-back “Whiskey Lies” is an easy listen with a great theme, and “Pins and Needles” also takes a slower approach, but delivers a powerful message. Opening cut “22 Days” is a great rock anthem with superb guitar action and a great beat, and “Get Away” continues that tradition, while “Bullet In My Gun” takes a more cowboy direction with guns and whiskey. They crank it back up on “Gypsy Lullaby”, about the farthest thing from my idea of a lullaby, but a kick-ass tune with stinging guitars and pounding beat, and “Wrapped Around Your Finger” tells the typical love story of how he worships the ground she walks on. Actually, this album offers more ballads and storytelling than in-your-face rockers, but that makes it a true reflection of their shows and songwriting abilities. All-in-all it’s a good first recording and they look to have a great future ahead of them. Look for them at Ray’s in September. Check them out at www.ziggymoonshine.com

John Langford & Skull Orchard - Old Devils  - Bloodshot Records - As a member of first wave punk icons, Mekons, roots rabble-rousers the Waco Brothers and alt-country Pine Valley Cosmonauts, Jon has a record of good music and great listening to recommend his efforts. In this solo release, Old Devils, Jon and his bandmates (fellow Waco Brothers Alan Doughty and Joe Camarillo on bass and drums and Jim Elkington on guitar) blend genres with energy and humor (grim and otherwise). Ultimately, though, Skull Orchard rocks hard. Cuts “1234 Ever” and “Getting Used To Uselessness” go straight for the old school sweet spot, with hard-rocking riffs and backbeat ala Dave Edmunds. Elkington’s clean guitar lines, well-versed in the ways of the hippie folk feel, provide an offset to Jon’s chugging rhythm in “Flag of Triumph”. Even when the band goes all gentle, country-inflected rock like “Book of Your Life” that emotes the Flying Burrito Brothers and the gentle “Death Valley Day,” or charms with the rockabilly runs of “Self Portrait,” Skull Orchard are never far from punk’s energy or a honky tonk’s piano. Low-octane “Luxury” lets Jon bring a laid-back tale in this smooth ballad, while “Haunted” spins a mellow story of spinning needs. As usual, the combination of thought-provoking lyrics, lush production and some hard-core guitar bring a bottom line of well-crafted music. Highly recommended. Find them at www.bloodshotrecords.com

The Farewell Drifters - Yellow Tag Mondays - Heart Squeezed Records - This versatile quintet of musicians who came from various parts of the country and merged in Nashville brings their blend of smooth harmonies, good instrumentals and down home songwriting to a modern country-bluegrass fusion. Comprised of Zach Bevill on lead vocals and guitar, Joshua Britt on mandolin & vocals, Clayton Britt on lead guitar & vocals, Christian Sedelmyer on fiddle & vocals and Dean Marold on upright bass and vocals, they are a refreshing breath of fresh music. The bouncy “Everyone Is Talking” combines snappy lyrics with great fiddle and banjo highlights, while “Sunnyside Drive” flows like cane syrup, and “All We Need” weaves an a cappella tale of looking for love, and “Virginia Bell” is a barn-dance style bluegrass tune with a nice bouncy beat. “Love Me Good & Plain” asks for what we all need, a love that is real, while “River Song” highlights Joshua’s mandolin licks, and the plaintive “Please Dream Of Me Tonight” pleads for her to return the love he longs for, and the reminisce of times past in “Old Friends”, and “Wake Up” could be a call for better awareness of current events, while “Fight To Find Your Way” is an anthem of sorts, and the final cut, “Somewhere Down The Road” asks you to look at the future in a musical state of mind. This should prove to be the first of many fine releases by these talented newcomers with their approach to combining traditional music with a new infusion of energy and finely tuned vocal harmonies with great instrumental backup. Check them out at www.farewelldrifters.com

Chris Smither - Time Stands Still  - Signature Sounds Records - Four decades of musicianship and songwriting craft come together on Chris Smither’s latest collection, Time Stands Still - a gripping mix of originals and carefully chosen covers that builds on a legendary career that shows no signs of slowing down. On the contrary, this blues and folk superstar continues to create new and interesting music. This release features a slew of tunes stripped down to their essence, shining the spotlight on Smither’s power as a songwriter - one who taps into emotions at their most elemental core. He’s teamed with producer and guitarist David “Goody” Goodrich and drummer Zak Trojano to create a simple musical landscape upon which to paint his blues and folk-fueled narratives. As always, his signature finger-picking style mixes with his whiskey-tinged vocals to deliver honest meditations on life, love and loss. Smither’s 11th studio album was recorded in just three days and captures the vibrant urgency and immediacy of his live shows. It features eight original compositions as well as covers from Bob Dylan, Mark Knopfler, and 1920s country-blues songster Frank Hutchison. Whether playfully dealing with parenthood on “I Don’t Know” or acting the seducer on “Don’t Call Me Stranger,” the essence of the blues is never far away. The songs are seeped in emotion, and full of the wisdom of hard-luck knowledge. Like the master craftsman he is, Smither mixes the right melody with thought-provoking, heart-rending lyrics. Nowhere is that more evident than on the soulful title track. Building on a toe-tapping beat, Smither’s voice declares “I kissed her twice at the speed of light and time stood still,” perfectly capturing one of the small moments that give so much meaning in life. Like all great blues and folk masters, he doesn’t wallow in the darkness. Rather he lights it up, and the songs on Time Stands Still shine a light on the true feelings he shares. This is a fine example of his best work. Find him at  http://smither.com

Exene Cervenka - Somewhere Gone - Bloodshot Records - From her musical start as a member of the punk band X in 1977 to her stint with The Knitters in 1985, Exene wandered in and out of X and did a number of solo releases, which brings her to the present. This is Exene’s first solo album since 1991, and is a sometimes dreamy passage through folk and country. Like other artists who travel easily between the worlds of words and music, Exene’s lyrics are immediately recognizable, both fragile and with vocals that carry all the passion of X without all the noise. She creates an atmosphere of both strain and empathy, speaking to the romantic in all of us. Throughout, lines such as Be still my beating bat wings (“Where Do We Go From Here”), I’m trying to make an honest mistake/out of you (“Honest Mistake”) or You can have what’s left of my forever (“Fine Familiar”) cast a dim light on the sentimental. Glass full of empty (“Sound of Coming Down”), Blackness and limelight (“Somewhere Gone”) as well as the album title itself speak to a tension she has created. The album was produced by Exene, and is a sometimes sparse, sometimes extreme blend of folk, deep country and blues feel. Exene’s guitar playing (she plays on most of the songs) and the somber cello/viola of Amy Farris (Dave Alvin’s Guilty Women, Alejandro Escovedo, Kelly Willis) give the title track a sense of urgency, while the far-out west sound of “Sound of Coming Down” is a freefall. On the only song not written by Exene, an ancient ballad of the hills “The Willow Tree,” she duets with Amy and the feeling of the ages is in it. Also lending their handiwork are Joe Terry (Skeletons, Morells) on barrelhouse piano, Lou Whitney (Skeletons) on bass, Dex Romweber (Dex Romweber Duo, Flat Duo Jets) on keyboards, Cindy Wasserman (Dead Rock West) and Jason Edge on guitar. The sound is her own and the music will make you feel glad to be alive. Highly recommended. Find her at www.bloodshotrecords.com

Deadstring Brothers - Sao Paulo - Bloodshot Records - Compared by critics to early Stones and The Black Crowes, this motley crew of country-blues rockers from the wasteland that was Detroit carry on the tradition of what rock n’ roll was supposed to always be. With the heart & soul of singer/guitarist Kurt Marschke, Travis Harrett on drums, and the brothers Cullum (from London), Spencer on guitar and Jeff on bass, these guys are the reincarnation of 70’s rock with a mix of blood n’ guts and greasy soul. From the title cut, with it’s stoner leanings, it’s ‘balls to the wall” from start to finish. “Smile” is as close to anything from “Exile on Main Street” I’ve ever heard, an amazing rebirth of a lost sound, but with the tinkling piano and stinging guitars on “Houston” they take it to another level. The moaning “Can’t Make It Through The Night” is Delta blues at it’s best, and the tear-drenched “Adalee” is a mournful love song that shows they can slow it down and still keep the beat. On retro “The River” you get a deja-vu of The Band while wading into high water, and Spencer’s gritty guitar work shines on “It’s A Shame”. An almost gospel-feel highlights “Yesterday’s Style”, with it’s early country influences, and they close with “Always A Friend Of Mine”, a heartfelt ballad that let’s Spencer’s slide guitar take the spotlight. I can’t be more serious when I tell all you NOB rockers, this is as real as it gets. Trust me on this one, and google them and listen to some of their music. You’ll be convinced that you’ve got to have this in your collection. Find them at www.bloodshotrecords.com.

Lathan Moore - Love In Your Life - Blue Steel Records - This young artist from Illinois brings a fresh voice to the scene and this debut album, well-produced by Norro Wilson & Rick Holt is a collection of new country songs with a mix of honky-tonk good-time swingers, youthful heartbreak, family ties and a touch or two of real humor. The leg-slapping, honky-tonkin’ “Beautiful Girl” has a great guitar beat, and the tender ballad “You Can’t Leave Me Like This” shows his vulnerability with a tale of lost love. The tongue-in-cheek “Shot Down” tells a humorous tale of a guy who just can’t win, and “Cornfield Cadillac” reflects on a young boys imagination with an abandoned car that “took me around the world”. The steel guitar-driven “Angel Fire” is a dancehall two-stepper that should catch on big time, and the title cut is an anthem to the true love we all have for family and friends. The rowdy, hard rocking “I’d Rather Be Lucky Than Good” is a beer-drinking fishing buddy cut that features stinging guitar licks and kicks butt, and the usual bad news from the family is given a good lickin’ on “That’s The News” while the final cut “Even Angels Have Bad Days” is a feel-good tale about when his baby has the blues. With a great voice and good production, this debut should put him in good position for airplay. In fact, I heard “Cornfield Cadillac” last week on a local station. So put on your boots, grab your gal and head for the dance hall. His web site can be found at www.lathanmoore.com.

Robert Frith - Robert Frith - T-Vel Records -  Since we last saw Robert at The Blue Door years ago, he has collected a slew of awards, including Texas Music Awards Singer/Songwriter of the Year Award in 2007 & 2008, and this new release reminds us of just what a beautiful voice he has, and the wonderful music he writes and records. His smooth voice and spare arrangements allow you to understand every word as he weaves his tales of love, hope, fun and games. Robert has assembled a stellar cast of performers on this album and it shows, as the sound is amazing. He opens with “Law Dog”, “Miss Saturday Night” is a feisty two-stepper about the “queen of the neon lights”, and a sad ballad tells the tale of “I Can’t Go To Mexico”. “Just Like That” is a classic love song for those who have found that rare kind of love we all long for, and he rocks out on “Ain’t No Big Thing” with some classic guitar licks. The laid-back feel of “Tomorrow” tells a tale of getting your act together (maybe), and he continues the mellow mood on the tender ballad  “A Better Me” with it’s promise of making things right so he can “be there for you, I can be a better me”.  He takes us back to Louisiana on “King Crab”, a Zydeco-style swinger, featuring some boiling hot accordion by Eustac Ledet, then to the Mississippi Delta with finger-pickin’ acoustic blues on “Rainwater”. He slows it back down on “Diamond In The Rough” with some nice slide guitar and wailing harp backup by Patrick Weickenand, then it’s back to the country on “More Everyday”, a smooth love ballad. He finishes with a soulful folksy tale of being “tired of working my ass off” for nothing on “Creature of Habit”, a fitting finale to this delightful group of songs. I can’t say enough, so go to his web site and check it out yourself. And tell him I sent you! Find him and his music at his web site at www.robertfrith.com

Jeremy Parsons - doggondest feelin' -  PCG Records - This young artist from San Antonio was raised on old-time country music and now he pays tribute in a genuine and very special way. With a voice that was made to warble the classic country sounds of years ago, and a wardrobe to make Porter Wagoner proud (he sports a one-of-a-kind bedazzled blazer by Manuel), he will amaze you with his sound. He has the voice with that little quiver that makes old time country the way it was, and he uses it well. He is also a true nostalgia buff, and it shows in spades here. On this release, he opens with “The Night Hank Williams Died”, as he reveals the impact Hank had in such a short period of time, and the title cut takes a humorous look at an oncoming breakup with his baby. The very personal story of “Hide Her Angel Wings” is a stirring tribute to his mother, with some nice steel guitar to give it a ‘perfect’ touch, and the bleak story of “Out Comes The Sun” relates to bad relationships and how much better you’d be without her. More love gone bad vibes come out in “Can’t Recall The Fall”, and with a stirring Dobro opening on “Since My Baby Left Me” about losing his girl in this bouncy, tongue-in-cheek cut with nice fiddle highlights. He yearns for a girl done wrong, as he tells her “I Could Be Your Pick Me Up” (“after all his put you downs”), and “When My Old Man Was Young” is his lively ode to days gone by. The bonus track of the title cut sounds like an old 78 rpm record. In fact, the CD itself looks like a mini 33 rpm album, quite a nice nostalgic touch. This is the real deal, folks, so check him out. His web site can be found at www.jeremyparsonsmusic.com

The Bottle Rockets - Lean Forward - Bloodshot Records - True to their Midwest roots, these guys continue to crank out the stories of small town American life with the gritty tales and rocking sounds they are famous for. Now in their 15th year, these hard working rockers are best seen live, but their albums have always made my best 10 lists. This will be the 4th one I’ve reviewed and I thank the folks at Bloodshot for keeping these guys in the mix. Opening with stinging guitar, “The Long Way” has a Dave Edmunds feel and sound, but with their own stamp on it, and with a 60’s Stones sound, “Shame On Me” tells the too familiar story of a screwed up relationship despite all the good intentions in the world and features some great guitar solos. The retro Bo Diddley chank-a-chank on “Nothin’ But A Driver” turns it into a hard-rockin’ tune with gutsy roots, and they turn to ZZ Top licks on “Hard Times” with a dual guitar attack that lifts your spirits. They get a more bouncy feel on “Done It All” and “Get On The Bus” with some amazing guitar work on “Bus” that is a highlight for me. The gospel-feel of “Open Your Eyes” shows that they can slow it down and still sound great, and the serious “Kid Next Door” tells a sobering tale of a war coming home and how it affects us all, as they relate that “he ain’t coming home no more.”  The scruffy punk feel of their early work comes out strong on “Way It Used To Be” with some hardcore ax-grinding. The slower cuts include “Slip Away” with a reggae beat, and “Solitaire”, and sad little number. This is living proof that they are still in their prime and can still dish it out. Highly recommended. Find them at www.bottlerocketsmusic.com. (reviewed by Dave Miller)

Mary Allen-Keating - Put A Little Texas In Your Swing - Self-produced - Mary Allen-Keating, who grew up in Conroe, has had great success with her alter ego performance of Patsy Cline, which she will revisit soon with the “Always...Patsy Cline” shows that are featured in our cover story. But her current album, Put a Little Swing in Your Texas allows the real Mary Allen-Keating to stand up as well. The title track, written by Mary-Allen Keating, is exactly what its name implies - a lot of good Texas swing. “Bill Bailey” is neat version of the old standard. The album is highlighted by the second Mary Allen-Keating penned song. “Let’s Make Music in the Country”, which I understand with different lyrics was originally under consideration to be a campaign theme song for Kinky Friedman. No matter what it used to be, this is a clever song with a great hook. Her version of the Ernest Tubb’s masterpiece, “Waltz Across Texas” remains close to the original, but Mary’s voice puts a new shine on it. Patsy Cline is well represented and showcases pretty much Patsy’s most famous songs. Included covers are “Walking After Midnight” and of course the Willie Nelson penned “Crazy”. Both of these songs should please even the most devout Patsy Cline fans. “You Belong To Me”, which Mary Allen-Keating nails, was recorded by Patsy Cline, but it was a much bigger hit on the Pop Charts with a version by Jo Stafford reaching #1 in both the United States and England, the first record by a female to reach #1 in the UK. It went high on the pop charts with different artists at least another five times. Maybe Mary Allen-Keating could make it number six. The album features the fine musicianship of Herb Remington and The River Road Boys and is nicely produced. Put A Little Texas In Your Swing is available at www.maryallenkeating.com. (reviewed by Craig Jones)

Graham Parker - Imaginary Television - Bloodshot Records - For over 30 years, Graham Parker has been slinging a signature sound across continents and airwaves that has rightly earned him a spot in the pantheon of truly original and influential figures in rock and roll. Since his early days with his band the Rumour (with whom he has two albums in Rolling Stone’s “Top 100 Albums of All Time”), Graham has coupled punk’s energy with his deeply rooted love of American R&B, country and soul music. He’s got a snotty barroom brawler’s rasp and sneer, a soulman’s swagger and an ear for hooks and pop songcraft. On this release he combines indelible hooks and a penchant for the British blues-rock revival with a touch of reggae and biting political commentary to make this. The catchy “It’s My Party” evokes a 60’s pop event, and in “Snowgun” he tells a tale of snowboarding bum, Hideo Smith in a slow-burning band-like jam, perfect for crisp days on the slope. Telling the story of a fork lift driver, “Broken Skin” takes us to a Wyoming strip-mining outpost, and “Bring Me A Heart Again” puts us in the mind of a ragtag private eye wandering the Lower East Side looking for love. He soars on “You’re Not Who You Think You Are”, a carefully crafted yarn about hallucinations, and the bizarre “1st Responder” uses a reggae beat to follow a young car thief on his rounds. As usual, Parker weaves a trail of broken hearts, broken lives and lots of fun as he takes us on a magical, musical journey. This is a superb collection of songs. Check him out at www.grahamparker.net 

Mark May Band - In Texas Live - Flying Dog Records - We first met Mark when we were publishing Southern Exposure in 1994 and have been friends ever since. His unique interpretations and signature stinging guitar licks combined with a strong vocal presentation make his music his own. This live album was recorded at The Rhythm Room, Fitzgerald’s and Dan Electro’s on Joe’s Roadhouse, the former KPFT show that served to promote local artists for many years (and is sorely missed by all Houston music fans). Recorded by Frank Cupal of F&S Productions and mixed by Frank with Mark’s assistance, this is a showcase of the wonderful live shows we all came to love and appreciate. Mark’s band consists of himself on guitar/vocals, Paul Ramirez on guitar/vocals, Dan Cooper on bass and Clyde Dempsey on drums. From the opening track, “You’re Leaving Baby” with Mark showing off some remarkable licks, to a couple of Albert Collins covers, “Blue Monday” and “Lights Are On But Nobody’s Home” with plenty of jam length guitar solos, this is a true blues classic. An extended (12 minute) cover of Neil Young’s “Ohio” let’s the guitar pickers shine, and an even longer (14 minute) jam of Dickey Betts’ “In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed” sets a mellow pace for this cut that includes much back-and-forth on guitar work. One of Mark’s originals, “Gangsta’s Blues” tells the tale of people taking the wrong path in life, and he finishes with one of my favorite covers, “Mercury Blues”, the 1949 song written by K.C. Douglas and Robert Geddins, that has been covered by many artists, but Mark’s version makes it a blues-themed hit with plenty of slide guitar and boogie-woogie guitar beats. For Mark’s fans and any blues lovers, this is a great group of live cuts that will get you bouncing on the dance floor. Available at live shows or find him at www.markmay.com

Joe Swank & The Zen Pirates - Hank Williams Died For Your Sins - Cowpunk Muisc - Just the title alone made me pick this up and give it a play. These guys describe themselves as a good ol’ fashioned honky tonk bar band, and they live up to that promise. With the style of music that many Texas bands use to crank it up, this cowpunk gang originally played in North Carolina, but Joe lives in Chicago now. The band includes Joe on guitar/vocals, Scott Gilmore on guitar/vocals, Alex D. Little on bass and Stephen Gardner on drums. The title cut is a gospel-tinged ballad with tongue-in-cheek philosophy, and ‘Same Ol Feeling’ takes a retro 60’s Flying Burrito Brothers country rock fling, but ‘Just Tell Her I Loved Her’ goes full-tilt-boogie rock with great lead guitar ala Jason & the Scorchers. The down-and-dirty ‘Wait Until I Get My Hands On You’ tells a tale of back door lovers with some mean guitar licks, then the punk-a-billy ‘Tomorrow’s Just A Train-Wreck Away’ rocks the joint. Cutting to a two-stepper, they go into full cowboy mode on ‘Sittin’ Here Drinkin’ A Beer’ and the tearjerker ballad ‘Better Than Being Alone’ tells a sad tale of desperation. A second (reprise) version of the title cut takes a more classic country feel, and they close with ‘Strutter’, a tale of gals who like to show off the goods. This is some of the best alt-country I’ve heard in a while, and I wish we could get them down here for a show or two. Check this out at http://zenpirates.com

Josh Grider - Sweet Road To Ride - United For Opportunity - We saw this band open for The Stone Coyotes at Dosey Doe last April, and are glad they sent us this fine CD to review. The Josh Grider Trio consists of Josh on guitar/vocals, Chris Grady on bass and Jeff Botta on drums. This group of songs explores the life of a musician on the road as well as the roads we all travel in life. The lyrics are brilliant, and the recording allows you to hear and understand every word, which many recordings fail to do. Thankfully, Josh has mastered the music to allow this, as he has carefully crafted each and every song.

Opening cut ‘Here With Me’ takes a lyrical trip to San Francisco and Kansas City while he laments being away from his family, and the love them and leave them theme of ‘While You Were Sleeping’ paints a dreary picture of love gone bad. The awesome ballad ‘Great Divide’ gives Josh a chance to shine as vocalist while struggling to make a choice, and ‘Sunburn’ is a sad, tender ballad about broken hearts. 

The soaring ‘Over My Head’ gives him a chance to admit he may bitten off more than he can “chew”, and they get funky on ‘Sometimes’ while ‘Halfway There’ takes a reggae and calypso beat as they hit the road again. The theme turns darker on ‘Love Went Wrong’, another song about a bad choice in a love life, and my favorite is the running from the law ballad ‘They Ain’t Found Us Yet’ with it’s harmonic vocals and fantastic guitar rhythms. It’s back to driving all day on ‘Again’, a lament on always being gone, and he ends the album with a final promise to “spread his wings” on ‘Watch me Now’. While there are more sad themes than not, the music is so beautiful you will forget the sadness and enjoy the delivery rather than the theme. The amazing harmonies and clear vocals make this a winner! See them at Dosey Doe on Feb. 19. Available at live shows or find them at www.joshgrider.com

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver - Lonely Street - Rounder Records - After a career in bluegrass spanning over 45 years, you'd think he would have done it all. But this release marks his 30th year of recording with Quicksilver and their 34th album, and it seems he's just getting his second wind. His high-lonely vocals highlight the tunes, and the instruments bring their own contributions, one by one, each in it's own unique way. The musicians featured here include Doyle on mandolin/vocals, Darren Beachley on guitar/vocals, Carl White on bass/vocals, Joey Cox on banjo, Josh Swift on resophonic guitar, Weisenborn guitar and percussion, and Brandon Godman and David Johnson on fiddle. They picked a fine variety of tunes, opening with a tribute to the "Father of Bluegrass Music", Bill Monroe, called "Monroe's Mandolin", and then the title cut, a country classic that they speed up to match their pickin' tempo, then cut to a cry-in-your beer tune, "Ain't A Woman Somebody When She's Gone", a classic lost love ode. "Big Wind" is a Porter Wagoner song about a scary weather situation and they tackle the hard-driving, hot picking cut with a vengeance, while the tear-jerker "Oh Heart, Look What You've Done" features Darren on lead vocals, giving a spine-tingling reaction to his tale of how the heart overrules the mind when it comes to love. The sad commentary on the bleak times "Human Race" reflects on how our land of plenty has wasted so much and been so careless, while the 1950's Marty Robbins tune "Call Me Up And I'll Come Calling On You" is a feel-good old-timey country cut that converts to bluegrass very well. The gorgeous harmonies on "Yesterday's Songs" take us back to country church gospel meets and their soul-lifting feelings, while the instrumental "Down Around Bear Cove" gives Doyle and Swift a chance to shine on their respective instruments. The mountain feud love song "Johnny and Sally" is a sad tale of true love that succeeds beyond all odds, while the sad tale of "My Real World Of Make Believe" is a love song about a love that never was and features more smooth harmonies. The final cut is a Chris Stuart gospel tune called "When The Last Of Our Days Shall Come" that features Darren's fine vocals and Brandon's great fiddling. Check them out at www.doylelawson.com Reviewed June 2009

The Snake Charmers - Been Gone Too Long - Skunk Eye Records - I met this funky group at the Spring Blues Festival at Bohemeo's and really enjoyed their set at the show. Comprised of Marie Angell  on vocals/keyboards, her husband Will Blumentritt on bass, son Eric Blumentritt on drums and Larry "The Chemist"Meeker on guitar, this gang of four puts out some pretty cool vibes on their all-originals offered here, with Marie doing the songwriting. Opening cut "Ain't Nothing But The Blues" takes a smoky, dimly lit barroom feel to a nice ballad, but picks up speed on "No Mercy", with lots of Larry's stinging guitar licks and Marie's howlin' vocals. They drop the tempo on "Can't Trust A Heart", another wispy, soul-searching ballad, and then funk it up with "Big Big Love", with plenty of soulful harmonica from Alan "Otis Futhermucker" Gould, who accentuates the feel of the tune. The title cut lets Marie cut loose on this hard-driving "done me wrong" tune, and Larry gets to show his chops again on "I Wanna Do Right", a bouncy, danceable tune that Marie makes into a real charmer. The soulful "Move On Blues" gathers a little speed as she gets more into the vibe, then she sways into a 60's retro feel on "Half A Cup", amid just the right amount of bass & drums. The funk continues on "Just A Little Kiss", a cute little ditty about "when two lips meet", and then goes out in style with her fantasy, "(I Wanna Be A) Hoochie Mama", with "too much lipstick" and with more of Larry's cool guitar. Lots of good music here, so check them out. They play a lot in the Bay Area, at places like T-Bone Tom's and The Green Parrott Bar & Grill. Find them at www.snakecharmers.net Reviewed June 2009