RSSConsumer Guide by Review Date: 2012-06-15
2012-06-15
Gregg Allman: Low Country Blues (Rounder, 2011) The reason the only one he wrote is called "Just Another Rider" is that he's finally content to let better songs than his own carry him home ("Floating Bridge," "Devil Got My Woman") **
Stephen David Austin: A Bakersfield Dozen (Rocket Science Ventures, 2011) The kind of writer who remembers the day Buck Owens died, the kind of singer who hopes someone covers his song about it ("Best Ex I Ever Had," "The Cage") **
William Michael Dillon: Black Robes and Lawyers (Flying Free, 2011) Learned a skill while doing 28 goddamn years for a murder he didn't commit ("Black Robes and Lawyers," "Chasing a Dream") **
Jerry Lee Lewis: Mean Old Man (Verve Forecast, 2010) The Killer's many wives etc. (those who are alive, anyway) will tell you he's not really mean--that's just Kristofferson kidding around ("Mean Old Man," "Sweet Virginia") *
Otis Taylor: Otis Taylor's Contraband (Telarc, 2012) Colorado bluesman finally figures out how to split the difference between gravity and taking yourself too seriously ("Yell Your Name," "Blind Piano Teacher") ***
Jimmie Vaughan: Plays Blues, Ballads & Favorites (Shout! Factory, 2011) He knows the tradition & also the difference between a traditionalist and a remaker ("The Pleasure's All Mine," "Wheel of Fortune") *
Waco Brothers & Paul Burch: Great Chicago Fire (Bloodshot, 2012) Ever collegial and craving new blood, Jon L. and the gang take in a fortysomething alt-Nashville lifer ("Great Chicago Fire," "Someone That You Know") *
Ahmad Zahir: Hip 70s Afghan Beats! (Guerssen, 2011) Assassinated by the Russians in 1979, Afghan rocker was too gifted vocally and melodically to sink into schlock ("Dar Kunj Dilam Eshqi Kasi," "Uoba Darta Rawarem") ***