NORMAN — Randy Rogers Band,
Burning The Day,”
(MCA Nashville) 2010
An improvement over their previous, self-titled album, the Randy Rogers Band sounds like the weary Texas country band they were always meant to be.
As Rogers told me in a Pop interview earlier this summer, the title of their new album, “Burning The Day,” came from a discussion he had with the band manager, where he asked to have the meeting about the new album earlier, rather than “burning the day.”
Produced by the sought-after Nashville cat Paul Worley, “Burning The Day” is fairly typical of his more mainstream style. Yet RRB maintains their grittier alternative-country sound, Rogers’ forlorn voice intact.
One impressive track is the straightforward fiddle-laced country of “Missing You Is More Than I Can Do,” one of the best songs the RRB has recorded in a while.
There’s a traditional feel to the bittersweet “Just Don’t Tell Me The Truth,” while the 1970s work of Charlie Daniels and Waylon Jennings comes to mind on the closer “Last Last Chance,” a song written by bassist Jon Richardson and guitarist Geoffrey Hill.
A good album over all. Not any broken ground here, just solid Texas country, delivered by one of the best bands in the genre.
Grade — B
Keller and The Keels,
Thief,” (SCI Fidelity
Records) 2010
A follow-up to the wonderful covers album “Grass,” one-man-jam-band Keller Williams once again teams up with Virginia-based bluegrass duo Larry and Jenny Keel on the 13-track disc called “Thief.”
Recorded live in a studio in Williams’ hometown of Fredericksburg, Va., “Thief” is a play on the idea that the good-timin’ trio has “stolen” other people’s songs.
These are all cover songs, after all. But that is not the case, Williams assures us in the liner notes.
Each songwriter gets a percentage of the album sales. Not bad, eh.
On to the music … Kris Kristofferson has two songs on the collection: the album kicker “Don’t Cuss the Fiddle” and the album closer “The Year 2003 Minus 25.” Interesting choices.
A plucky cover of Cracker’s “Teen Angst” is fun, as are covers of Marcy Playground’s sleazy “Sex and Candy” and the Grateful Dead’s “Mountains of the Moon.”
Fans of smart bluegrass with a pop sensibility will dig “Thief.”
Grade — A-
Jimmie Vaughan,
“Plays Blues, Ballads and
Favorites”
(Shout! Factory) 2010
The immensely talented brother of the late Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmie Vaughan, is back with a great new collection of bluesy covers that range from Willie Nelson’s “Funny How Time Slips Away” to Johnny Ace’s “How Can You Be So Mean.”
On “Come Love,” a Jimmy Reed tune, Vaughan (playing guitar and harmonica) trades vocals with Lou Ann Barton, who appears on many of these tracks.
It’s a playful song with a live-at-the-bar feel. You’ll catch yourself grooving to this one.
Drummer George Rains’ snare and hi-hat sound like they are right there in the room with you on “I’m Leavin’ It Up to You,” another swell cover.
Vaughan’s guitar sounds dynamite on the lively, brassy “(She’s Got The) Blues For Sale.”
While this record could have used another layer of polish, the live-music fan in me is glad it has a decidedly more raw feel. Vaughan sounds like he’s having a blast.
Grade — B+
