I’m back again, focusing on newer under the radar releases and, in an effort to catch up, keeping each review as brief as possible. If it gets a mention here it’s worth your time. Life’s too short to spend on meaningless music!
The Westies
Six on The Out
Pauper Sky Music
In the world of the Westies front man, Michael McDermott, no one gets out of here intact; his songs are populated with the down and out, victims of circumstance and their own bad choices. The lead protagonist of “Parolee” — the strongest track here — wishes he could “start all over again,” a lament shared by many, while the sprightly Celtic underpinnings of “The Gang’s All Here” cloaks the desperation of those who find themselves “scattered, unmasked and shattered” by what life has thrown at them.
His best songs are ripe with such sentiment, and if McDermott’s voice doesn’t always provide the best vehicle — it’s a bit too smooth for its own good — that’s a relatively minor quibble. Producer Will Kimbrough provides his trademark sublime guitar work; Heather Horton adds some fiddle and welcome vocal accompaniment, which helps propel Six on the Out forward in reasonably fine fashion.
I’m still not sold on his vocal approach for such dark material and find myself wishing he’d market these powerful entries for others to sing. That’s clearly a matter of taste and I encourage you to sample a few You Tube clips before deciding if this album is for you. ***
Jody Search
Seasons
When I Run Music
This five-song EP could best be filed under White Soul (a bit too white) or contemporary Christian. Not a thing wrong with either of those but while Search brings a pleasant voice and clever instrumentation (piano, beat boxing, synths, bass loops, and guitar) to the mix, the songs suffer from a sameness of pace and overly sentimental lyrics. Designed as a seasonal cycle, Seasons has some fine glimpses but could have used a producer to tighten things up and insist upon a few rewrites. **1/2
Chuck Johnson and Charlyhorse
Barb Wire
Little King Records
This five-piece Charlotte NC based band delivers a nice bit of throwback (in the best sense of the word) country rock, nimbly written and played songs of lost love, hard times and the eternal hope that redemption is just around the corner.
Propelled by lead singer Chuck Johnson’s earthy singing and Dennis Johnson’s nimble piano work the songs glide quickly with an honesty that isn’t always found in today’s music. Standout tracks include “Elaina,” a fine remembrance of better times and “Eight Feet of Water,” which manages to add nicely to the list of songs inspired by the tragedy that was hurricane Katrina.
I’m less enamored by the bluegrass tinged “Shine” but taken in its entirety Barb Wire is an impressive effort. ***1/2
Jason Paulson
Crow River Ramble
Camper Van Records
For his third album Minneapolis based Paulson “turns down the amplifiers and picks up the acoustic guitar” but the results are no less electrifying and engaging. “Crow River Ramble” focuses more on Paulson’s strength of songwriting, and while he’s often likened to Jason Isbell and such sprightly gems as the hard rocking “Cold in California” and “Long Way to Run,” the sound is uniquely his.
By using the same core line up, producer Jason Swensen gives the album a nice sense of unity, balancing the laid back with the up tempo; but its Paulson’s own mid-range voice and acute knack for imagery that elevates “Crow River Ramble” above the crowded field of Americana efforts. ****
Lizanne Knott
Excellent Day
Proper Records
Badass rocker meets wounded bird, with a heavy dose of unapologetic lust thrown into the mix. Supported by a hugely talented and simpatico band Knott pretty much knocks every track out of the ballpark, and while her own songs carry the day the standout here is her ethereal cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Stolen Car,” which might just be the best reworking ever of a song from The Boss.
Credit also goes to producer and support musician Glenn Barratt for adding just the right touches — muted trumpet, banjo, and guitar loops among them — as needed. The result is an adventurous and multi-layered delight which lives up to its name and bears repeated spins. ****
