By Andrew W. Griffin
pop writer
Charlie Robison
Beautiful Day
Dualtone
Texas-based singer-songwriter Charlie Robison, best known for quirky-'n'-catchy roots-rock songs like "Barlight" and "Walter," has been a relatively steady presence on the Texas country scene and on the periphery of the mainstream country world.
And with his new 10-song album "Beautiful Day," Robison, recently divorced from Dixie Chick Emily Robison, has released all those feelings into the 10 songs that make up "Beautiful Day," arguably Robison's best release to date.
With the assistance of professionals like guitarists Charlie Sexton and Rich Brotherton, Robison, who produced the album, sounds like a man who has awoken after a hangover and has a renewed energy, albeit fueled with a dash of spite and anger. But Robison sweetens the mix enough to make it palatable, even tasty at times.
Kicking off with the sprightly California-themed title track, Robison sings of a young woman dropping her old life and embracing a new life in California. A tired idea, at least in the song world, but it has the impact of a poppy roots-rock song like Michelle Shocked's "Anchorage" did over 20 years ago. It works.
With a staccato beat reminiscent of Beck "The New Pollution," "Yellow Blues" Robison is clearly bitter when he ruefully sings "Well promises are overrated / Vows have just become outdated / Ain't it true."
And then Robison will go from anger to acceptance of sorts on a cover of the Keith Gattis song "Down Again."
Covering the Bobby Bare Jr. song "Nothin' Better to Do," Robison sings about "two parasite hearts co-existing" in a relationship that is clearly problematic.
On "Reconsider," Robison seems desparate -- metaphorically speaking -- to patch things up. You wonder if he really means it. But then we get to "Feelin' Good," an optimistic track with some nice mandolin and accordion work propelling him along.
While it has to be hard for Robison to bare his soul in the wake of something so painful, one has to give him credit for handling the aftermath in a creative and compelling way. And for Robison let's hope this "Beautiful Day" leads to many more.
Grade - B
Entertainment
Recent breakup fuels 'Beautiful Day'
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