This album is probably the best album to come out of Nashville this year.
The Cherry Bombs were Rodney Crowell's backup band in the Seventies. Everyone
from that band is here except for Emory Gordy Jr. on bass replaced by sessions
ace Michael Rhodes. The original drummer Larry Londin passed away in 1992,
replaced by sessions drummer Eddie Bayer.
There is a nice variety of songs here from country to alt/country with
a little fifties rock added in. There are two of the best lead guitarists
around to enjoy in Vince Gill and Richard Bennett, each with their own
style. Producer and head of Universal South Records Tony Brown, who once
played with Elvis is back pounding the keys again. This band is in a groove,
really enjoyable to listen to them interact. Hank Devito adds some great
steel. There are some horns on some of the tunes.
When you have a label head in the band, you get the best of
everything; recorded at Ocean Way Studios in Nashville and mastered by Hank
Williams of Mastermix. The sound is just perfect produced by the Cherry
Bombs, but I would guess that Tony Brown and Vince Gill did most of the
producing.
I doubt that the original Cherry Bombs would have sounded a lot like
this pristine perfect recording, they probably had a rougher, more
alt/country sound if they backed up Rodney Crowell. This album spotlights
both Vince and Rodney equally on vocals and the recording is plain ear
candy, not the raw recording sound that you hear on a lot of alt/country.
But, this reviewer loves the product, full of great songs with equal
song-writing credits to Crowell and Gill.
"Dangerous Curves" written by Crowell and sung by Crowell is a
mid-tempo alt/country gem with Vince playin' some great guitar, a song about
messing with temptation. "Forever Someday" is a classic Vince Gill love
ballad in that beautiful high tenor with a more traditional backing. Great
steel and piano. What would a record with Vince on it be like without one of
his great ballads.
"On The Road To Ruin"- This song has a fifties rock sound with Tony
Brown playing some killer piano and some awesome lead guitar work by Richard
Bennett. Crowell and Vince sing so great together. I can't say enough about
the great rhythm section of Bayers and on drums and Rhodes on bass; really
gives the album some great lower end sound. "Heart Of a Jealous Man" has a
darker sound with Vince singing in a lower range with a mid-tempo rock sound
including some banjo; brilliant. This song seethes with emotion thru and
thru. "Oklahoma Dust" is a great song, Vince has that chickaboom sound going
and some great lyrics with some great imagery. The record starts out cookin'
with "Let it Roll, Let it Ride" with Vince and Rodney sharing lead vocals.
Upbeat Rocker with horns and Richard Bennett on some great lead guitar that
brings the Blues Brothers to mind. Some awesome bass runs by Rhodes.
"If I Ever Break Your Heart" sung by Gill is a strong country rocker
that has some great musical hooks, great Gill lead guitar that is a little
more raw and bluesy than usual. Rodney sings the bridge. Brilliant
production and textures and really nice backup vocal arrangements.
This leads to this reviewer's favorite song "Making Memories of Us", a
Rodney Crowell song with Rodney singing lead on a delicate, emotive song
about real love. Just a beautiful melody that explodes when Vince comes in
on the chorus with his high lonesome harmony.
This album is plain just a great listen, some awesome production of
the best musicians and songwriters that Nashville has to offer.
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