Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses
Junky Star
Lost Highway Records - 2010
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
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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Norma Jean Fox
(11/30/1945-9/7/2010)
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