So, I don’t really need to bother you with a review of every new album I pick up, but I’ve had this thing since December, and it’s awesomeness is simply undeniable.
And, I don’t know how the fuck they market albums these days. If it’s not a single bringing American Idol to commercial, how do people hear it? Especially this album. It’s in that Lucinda/Steve Earle world where the country stations aren’t really playing it because they don’t understand the lyrics, and it’s too country for rock stations. Our local independent station plays it, but there aren’t many stations like that out there any more. And, it’s an album, still the “musical unit of choice” for many of us born before 1980.
The thing is, I think that people who like Zeppelin or other classic rockers would dig this. It might as well be John Bonham on drums, maybe Malcolm Young on rhythm guitar. Reviewers seem to have focussed too much on the lyrics, which are probably the weak point (tend towards country cliche), but that’s nit picking.
This is a MUSICAL album. It was produced by a guy from the Black Crowes on “Lost Highway Records”, and reminds me of “Car Wheels” production-wise. Layers of sound, instruments drop in and out. Songs have huge dynamic changes in volume and tempo. Big intros and outros. Melodic verses.
“Southside of Heaven” is the big release, if you can call it big. A building storm, with a slowed-down bridge that gets you on the edge for the return of the original arrangement.
“Bread and Water” is a great stomp-clapper.
“Boracho Station” is a part Spanish part English waltz. Nice tune.
“Sunshine” might be my favorite. It starts out acoustic, and then it sounds like someone said, “all right, let’s wreck the drum kit” and they start pounding the skins as the steel and electric guitars come in, then it drops back to the acoustic sound. Excellent tune.
“Take it Easy Mama” sounds like it’s going to start out as a cover of “Lust for Life”, but then they get a little soulful with it.
Some of the tunes where he tries to rely on the songwriting get a little dull, mostly the deep tracks like “Long Way from Georgia” but even that rescues itself with a sweet small guitar solo that I wish went on for another minute or 5.
So, it’s been in pretty heavy rotation since December. I can’t believe I won’t still be putting this on 5 years from now.
Anyone listening to this? Anything else you’re finding undeniable these days?