Classic Rock Bottom

Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses

Junky Star

Lost Highway Records - 2010

http://www.binghammusic.com

 

 

 

Take the familiar yet totally cool mix of Bingham's whiskey, cigarettes and razorblade vocals combine it with a mix of supremely well crafted songs and you get a full sound that continues his streak of winning albums.

 

The title track paints a bleak yet lyrical picture. "Direction of the Wind" has some pointed social commentary in the lyrics yet it doesn't overwhelm what is a great song.

 

A couple of songs have a real in your face vibe to them: "Strange Feelin' In The Air" and "Depression"

 

Other songs to check out are "The Wandering", "Yesterday's Blues" and "Lay My Head On The Rail".

 

Sugarland

The Incredible Machine (Deluxe Edition)

Mercury Records - 2010

http://www.sugarlandmusic.com

 

 

The deluxe edition of the new Sugarland CD includes a DVD that documents the making of the album as well as the behind the scenes creation of the tour set, the live show and two music video.

 

The problem is that it just isn't all that great an album. Sugarland is a modern country act. And that is a good thing. I like some modern country and this group is by far one of my favorites. And normally I'm in favor of experimentation to keep your sound fresh and your artistic sense progressing. But this is more of a rock and roll album and most of it didn't work for me.

 

In the press I read before I bought the CD it said the first single "Stuck Like Glue" featured some lyrics done in rap by Jennifer Nettles. Okay, even writing that sentence seems strange. But I heard the song on the radio and it made me wonder what the reviewers were talking about. As it turns out, the version playing on country radio stations is edited to cut out the middle portion of the songs where she is rapping. After having heard the full song, I can only say that it is a good thing. The country radio version is a really good song. The full song with the rapping included is totally ruined by the rapping.

 

"All We Are" is a decent enough opening number rock track. "Stand Up" is a fantastic song where Kristian Bush actually has some lead vocal work. (He also handles vox on "Incredible Machine (Interlude)".)

 

"Little Miss" and "Every Girl Like Me" are good and the closing ballad "Shine The Light" stands out too.

 

The problem I had is it seems to my ear that the group is trying TOO hard to not sound like themselves in order to be called experimental. While the album is not a total washout, this is my least favorite of their four studio albums and I would prefer that when they push their artistic boundaries they continue to keep in mind what got them to where they are in the first place.

 

 

 

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I must say, I'm very surprised that you posted two country albums. I don't mean that in any bad way, just with a login name modeled after Savatage and Queensryche, two country albums threw me for a loop.

With that said, I took this seriously and give them a listen. (A monthly subscription gets me full track previews with Zune marketplace).

I think Im still not a country fan and these wont change that. The Ryan Bingham is interesting but not captivating enough to hold my interest and I found myself skipping to the next track.

Sugarland on the other hand, I really dug the intro to the first track and then they lost me from that point totally.

Even though I'm not a fan of these, I loved see your post! Wish you would do it more often!
Scott,

Keep in mind that when I wrote for Rockislife.com, I had to review a lot of different stuff.

Ryan Bingham falls into the alt-country genre not straight country. I have his first CD and took forever to listen to it for a review. Once I did I was kicking myself for not putting it in the player before then. He's very good.

If that throws you, technically the next two reviews I could post would be from two folk artists...
I'm not familiar with Bingham, but I am with Sugarland. Jennifer Nettles is a good vocalist and they do have a couple of decent songs. Other than that, they kind of blend in with all other current country music to me. I went through my country phase earlier in life, and unless it (country music) changes, I don't think I'll be there again. That being said, I do like a couple of country artists like Gary Allan, Kenny Chesney (although he's beginning to lose it) and Jason Aldean.

By the way, in case you didn't know it (and most likely couldn't care less), Nettles is the chick that did the duet with Bon Jovi that officially made a once good rock band into a country band (Who Says You Can't Go Home).
RJhog,

I listen to a lot of different stuff and when I listen to country, I prefer the female artists. I actually first got into Sugarland because of the guy though. He was part of a duo called Billy Pilgrim that I liked back in the 1990's.

And yes, I know all about Jennifer Nettles singing with Bon Jovi on that #1 hit. I actually liked that song.

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