5 comments about Easy Tiger.

1. After touring with Willie Nelson and Phil Lesh and Friends in 2006, alt-country singer-songwriter Ryan Adams released his ninth album, Easy Tiger, a collection of thirteen emotionally intense songs written during Adams' extended period of alcohol and heroin abuse that ended in 2006. Easy Tiger reveals Ryan Adams at his best as a singer-sonwriter, and gave him the worldwide attention he long deserved. Sheryl Crow contributes backing vocals on the song, "Two," and Rolling Stone ranked "Halloweenhead" among the 50 Best Songs of 2007. The complete Easy Tiger setlist includes:
   
   1. Goodnight Rose 3:20
   2. Two 2:38
   3. Everybody Knows 2:25
   4. Halloweenhead 3:23
   5. Oh My God, Whatever, Etc. 2:31 9
   6. Tears Of Gold 2:53
   7. The Sun Also Sets 4:09
   8. Off Broadway 2:31
   9. Pearls On A String 2:23
   10. Rip Off 3:12
   11. Two Hearts 3:03
   12. These Girls 2:50
   13. I Taught Myself How To Grow Old 3:21
   
   G. Merritt



2. This is an amazing album. Ryan Adams, one of the most prolific songwriters of our generation, and dare I say a musical genius has some great tracks on this album, including "Two", "Tears of Gold", "The Sun Also Sets", and "I Taught Myself How to Grow Old". The entire album flows incredibly well, and I love that unlike many mainstream artists that stack their best songs at the begininning of the album, Adams clearly puts a lot of thought into song order, and making a cohesive album to begin with, making the entire album a joy to listen to.



3. Buy "Easy Tiger" and "Follow the Lights" .. these two works go together perfectly ... Enjoy!
   Ryan is Americana music personified ... Bravo !



4. This album has some great tracks--"Two," "Everybody Knows." and "Halloween Head" offer many different sounds of Adams in back-to-back-to-back songs. The rest of the album is so-so.
   
   I still think Heartbreaker, Gold, and Cold Roses are the three best Adams albums.



5. Tracks Two and Three are amazing. The rest is just pretty good. I guess this is why people prefer itunes?

5 comments about Brighter Than Creation's Dark.

1. I wanted badly to like "Brighter Than Creation's Dark." When I first heard the title of the album, I hoped DBT would revert to some of the hard-edged flare of "The Dirty South" or "Southern Rock Opera." Unfortunately, this latest Trucker's release is far too time-consuming and far too short on substance. While there are certainly some jewels on this disc ("The Man I Shot," "Two Daughters and a Beautiful Wife," and "A Ghost to Most"), there are several forgettable tracks. "Brighter Than Creation's Dark" suffers from the Guns N Roses "Use Your Illusion I & II" disease of foregoing a great, compact release for a lengthy average work. The CD is arguably nine songs too long. The Truckers should have released "Brighter Than Creation's Dark" as a solid 10-song disc. Far too often bands release too much filler on discs these days instead of giving listeners a solid, shorter work. As much as Shonna Tucker improves the visual image of the band, her songwriting hurts "Brighter Than Creation's Dark." The three tunes she offers on the release are forgettable at best ("The Purgatory Line") and just plain horrible ("I'm Sorry Huston"). Maybe Jason Isbell should have stayed on with the band and sent Shonna packing. Of course, Shonna isn't the only offender on "Brighter Than Creation's Dark." Mike Cooley also offers up a few duds ("Lisa's Birthday" and "Bob") as does Patterson Hood ("You and Your Crystal Meth" and "Daddy Needs A Drink"). All said "Brighter Than Creation's Dark" could have been a great album if it were trimmed down and cranked up a bit. Too often the album plods along at a SLOW tempo seemingly forgetting the band has its roots in Rock and Roll. If DBT keeps up at this pace, I may throw myself off Lookout Mountain to save the trouble of enduring another such slipshod collection.



2. When that first song started up, I was immediately transported to "Little Bonnie", which to me in retrospect was one of the few bright spots on the last album. I recently lost my daddy, so DBT's have been on repeat pretty much. "Two Daughters and a Beautiful Wife" is, simply put, my favorite song so far of the last year of new releases. I often find myself sitting out in the cemetery, watching the rain fall onto the windshield of my truck as the lonesome banjo rolls on and the pedal steel wails directly into my heart. The harmony is absolutely breathtaking, and I've shed more than one tear listening to this song.
   
   The rest of the album holds up to the very lofty expectations that the first song creates. As a southern family man, "The Righteous Path" made me think of the 'notice of foreclosure' I got one time right when our economy went to hell.
   
   I have to say that Shonna's introduction on this album as a contributing singer/writer is something new and beautiful as well. I hope she keeps doing her thing for a long time to come. Patterson, Easy-B, Cooley, and Shonna have accompanied me on this hell-trip called life for a good while now. This album will get me a few miles further down the highway. It'll do the same for you too.



3. I have been a faithful follower of this band for a long time and I must say that the last two albums have really been disappointing. The band clearly misses Jason Isbell, if not on the guitar side, but definitely on the songwriting and creativity side. After listening to this album, I've decided that Cooley is the only thing that keeps this CD from being sold to the highest bidder. Also, I know that the band loves Spooner Oldham, but I can't listen to any of the songs that have his awful Wurlitzer playing a half-step behind the rest of the song. It's like fingernails on a blackboard!! Three Dimes Down is a great song until I hear that da%n organ thing in the background, it's AWFUL!!! DBT, please stop experimenting and adding member's and get back to what made you popular, And that is down home, southern fried, gritty rock and roll.
   It's a true disappointment.



4. This is an amazing album by an amazing band. To me, this is the best album of the decade so far. Not that I know every record made, but it is my favorite of anything I have heard. Is it flawless, no, a few of the (19!) songs are good but not great, "That Man I Shot" could have used a little work on the structure / lyrics toward the end, but Patterson Hood just continues to amaze with some of the most intelligent lyrics (are some of them a bit dark, yes, but I find it interesting, insightful, and often wry / funny rather than morose) as does Mike Cooley, and Shonna gives a great freshman effort in throwing her impressive creativity into the mix. The music is as varied as it is excellent, although this is decidedly more mellow than some of their older work. The overall way DBT has mixed country, progressive rock, 70's rock, and southern rock into their own unique hybrid, and added in exceptionally intelligent lyrics and passion, to me is just frackin' awesome. I just love it when a band forges their own path that is hard to compare to what came before them, rather than just copying what has already been done. And I give them a lot of credit on this album to be able to recover from the loss of a key band member, and use that as an opportunity to go in a slightly different direction rather than re-hashing what they have already done. The elevation of Shonna into a song writing role, the heavier incorporation of steel guitar, and a greater proportion of...I hate to say mellow...it's not like it will put you to sleep, but most of it is more akin to the mellow tone of My Sweet Annette rather than the more blazing old songs like Sinkhole, but to me, that is nice in that it is something a little different. I am so addicted to this album. In the first week I got it I listened to it over and over and over until I had to force myself to stop, for fear of wearing out the appeal of it. I can't get it out of my head. Buy this album.



5. I was put off at first but after a few listens I really can say I am a DBT fan.
   
   "I shot a man" in the context of our country's current wartime scene is chilling.
   
   "Monument Valley" conjures up pleasant memorys of desert rock climbing trips.
   
   "Bob" and "Lisas birthday" are a hoot.

5 comments about Phobia.

1. I understand that Breaking Benjamin seems to have a huge fanbase, as there are many positive reveiews for them, but when I took a listen and downloaded the album, I wasnt impressed, and I figure that most of the people that are reviewing them are loyal fans, and not someone like myself, who never heard their music, was taking them for a test drive. I decided to try them out as I saw fans of Chevelle (a simple, but solid rock band) recommended and bought this, so I figured, hey, it might be another tight and solid rock band. Sorry to say, I didnt hear anything from them that was original, and they sounded like a Billion other "pop" rock bands that are out there today. If there is one thing that irks the hell out of me, espically with this type of music, is why the angry screaming. I dont get it. Sing, please, unless the lyrics are angry or it fits, dont go on a fit of rage with a line like "She took all my stuff when she left" Of course this is just a silly example, but I just dont see its place in rock music unless its necessary. Lets keep that with Metal and Hardcore please. As you can see, I am complaining about every aspect of this band and the types like it. I dont think this review will be helpful to Breaking Benjamin fans, since I think most like all their music. For people who are experimenting like me, it is all going to depend what your bag is. If you are like me, and dont have a love for "pop" rock that I think or shall I say we think is generic, then you will probley agree with me. If not, and you are into more pop rock, which there is nothing wrong with, that is your choice, you might like it.



2. this cd is good and has great songs like diary of jane, dance with the devil and unknown soldier but seems to be lacking something. i dont know what but i like their 2 other cds better. this cd doesnt have enough variety and the singing changed too much. i enjoyed them before, they didnt need to change so much but it is what it is. still a solid release and breaking benjamin fans will still like this cd.



3. Breaking benjamin are one of the best i don't listen to bands like seether,puddle of mud,or staind i listen to heavier stuff than this but breaking benjamin are different they are heavier than all those bands.Saturate was probably heavier than this one im not sure but this is still good i love ben's screams he screams more in saturate but this has heavier sounds.If your a fan of these guys you will love this and if you like metal or hard rock check it out,yes they are metal for those of you who just called them rock.This album is great can't choose between saturate and this one cause of course i like it heavy and we are not alone was awesome just not as heavy as saturate and phobia.You might say im overwellming with my heavy but hey im metal.This is for fans of tool, nirvana,and just those who want something heavier than that.



4. Phobia is the best album that Breaking Benjamin has ever produced in the music eara. You should check out We Are Not Alone which is their next CD.



5. I was very impressed with the opening to Breaking Benjamin's newest album 'Phobia'. That I was startled and surprised in a big way is an understatement. The songs 'Diary Of Jane' and 'Breathe' are two of the most powerful opening songs to an album I have come across in a long, long time. The Intro which is 1 min and spare change leads into these songs and paves the 'atmosphere' of the album well. It is a dark melodic sojourn through love, darkness, pain and the inner sanctum of one's battles between heaven and hell.
   The opening 3 songs are the darkest in a refreshing way. 'You' is a hard rock ballad. All songs have great accompanied lyrics and is a testament that the songs have come deep down from the reflections of this band on their lives and experiences. Breaking Benjamin in my eyes have cemented their place in the progressive hard rock scene.
   This album is a must for all Breaking Benjamin fans if not for the hard rock beats but that this is a big step forward in the evolution of the B/B sound. This band can become and are on their road to becoming this decades 'newest Godsmack'. Another quality album and I cannot fault any song on this beaut album release.

5 comments about Car Wheels on a Gravel Road.

1. A couple of good songs, but all in all a bit too squared off. Not much imagination, roots music doesn't have to be so dry. I was drawn to her by her appearance at the Gram Parson Tribute concert. When she has great songs to sing she is really fine.



2. I used to own this album when it first came out, it was my first taste of Lucinda Williams. At the time, I loved all the hits (title track, Too Kool 2 B Forgotton, etc). Now, I've grown tired of those songs and when purchasing and listening to this album again, it is her other songs on it that captivate me. I would say there is not one song on this album that isn't great. I know that some of her other work is fairly sad, or dark, but this one is not. If you like anything you have heard from Lucinda Williams, you'll love this album!



3. An American masterpiece. It is that simple. If you are only going to buy one Lucinda album, this is the one for you. As great as her self-titled album was, this is better. A flawless gem, one of those albums that can change your life.



4. `Car Wheels on a Gravel Road' is properly titled for its sound and content. Featuring breathy, but spirited vocals, Lucinda Williams reminds one slightly of Janis Joplin on her near-acapella song "Mercedes Benz". Having plenty to say about breaking up with her boyfriend(s), her cyclical, twangy honky-tonk songs of regret come off as both sad and exhilarating despite the bitterness. Only on her truly scathing "Joy" does she take aim at her significant other at full force. Otherwise, she's just sad and lonely, recovering from her own little love hangover.
   
   Recollecting the joys of her recent, truncated past, "Right in Time" jump starts a truly consistent and heartfelt outing. The title track follows with all kinds of elicited memories. We can truly smell the bacon and eggs cooking as someone drives up the road and all the rough rocks of childhood and love interests come home to roost. "Concrete and Barbed Wire" finds the spare imagery of a wordsmith who gives us the bottom line of love's alienation. Heartache and punctuated accompaniment complement one another on the excellent "Can't Let Go". In the same wavelength, "Lake Charles" transports one to the time and place when love went right with a song that broods quietly with properly understated musicianship. "Greenville" takes us less serenely to a honky tonk bar scene with details of love turned to violence or rancor. "Metal Firecracker" is perhaps the saddest song of this fine batch. Recalling the vehicle of transported love, she exhorts her ex-lover, "Don't tell anybody the secrets/I told you." Surely, trust is at stake. How could anyone not relate to a tale of vulnerability gone to separation after intimacy.
   
   Hooked on it since my purchase, Lucinda Williams has a winner with `Car Wheels on a Gravel Road'. Gritty with recollection, lyrical sensibilities, and vocal prowess, Williams spares us little--especially her talent.



5. I ordered this cd specifically for the song "Drunken Angel". It has to be some of the best lyrics written, it makes you feel the heartache and wonder how anyone could write that without actually living through it. The rest of the cd is equally as spectacular. It is an emotion filled cd, with wonderful vocals and music. I would recommend this cd to many people, even if you do not particually care for country music.

5 comments about Core.

1. Although it's been said many times, many ways... this album is fantastic. At the height of the grunge movement came a band that followed, created, and stepped away from the trend that was music at that time. The DeLeo brothers brought a gritty edge to the table, while Scott Weiland crooned and crowed his way into all of our hearts.



2. I am always loathe to place the classic label on anything, but I am going to pull it out here. For whatever reason, this is the only album from '90 to about 2003 that is in my play rotation. Most of my listening has evolved into 60's and 70's classics that predate myself. This is the one exception. An album full of great, rocking songs. "Sex Type Thing" is right up there with "Whole Lotta Love", "War Pigs", "Shoot to Thrill" and "Enter Sandman" as far as I am concerned for absolutely ROCKING songs. The rest of the album is filled with great, memorable tunes that have aged very well. Along with Led Zeppelin II, and Back In Black, my favorite hard albums!!!



3. Despite the fall of an era as Stone Temple Pilots split (prior to 2008) a generation of hard rock enthusiasts/ circa grunge sound of the early 90's came to an end. Albeit STP never wanted to or really liked the title of being "a grunge band" they were closely associated with the sound and as a major factor in contributing to its evolving scope. That is, they were boxed into a genre they didn't see as fit, and as the band grew with albums beyond "Core" the sub genre dwindled, to the gratification of many musical intellects and band members... the undercut was the worst haircut of all time.
   
   However, this album review is about their debut collective, named "core" hard, distorted and in general loud, this album provided power chord riff's with melodic vocals reminiscent of past blues rock-come-country singers that broke out into their own sound. Tracks listed in a particular manner that helped compliment each song, one after the other.
   
   Needless to say, this album is what made stone temple pilots who they were destined to become. It provided a niche fan base that would follow the band right through to Shangri-La Dee Da and Thank Youdespite their experimental and evolving sound post- Purple( now listed on amazon.com as self titled???)
   
   Tracks making the honour list are : Wicked garden, Sex type thing, plush, dead and bloated and creep all making my personal list for some of the greatest music to come out of 1992.
   
   Nostalgic, heart warming for a guy who was on the verge of growing up, skateboarding and liking girls for the very first time, this album has a place with me always, a good listen for background tunes, driving, and just having a good time. Raw and uneven, I love that the imperfections that people might see in this album are anything but that to the devote STP community.



4. This is a must have for any fan of rock music. Songs like "Crackerman", "Creep", "Sex Type Thing", "Wicked Garden", "Plush", and "Dead and Bloated" are classics.
   
   Get this album!



5. I know what you're thinking, so I'll say it right now: these guys sound a lot like Pearl Jam. You know "Plush"? One of the two colossal hits on this album? A scorching riff party? I always thought it was by Pearl Jam! Now, I love the song. It's some of the best imitation Pearl Jam I've ever heard. That doesn't stop the fact that it's still just imitation, of course. It's not earth-shattering, but it rocks hard, and it has a brain, and it's catchy, and the guitars are fantastic. But don't worry, this isn't pure stealing from Pearl Jam. "Where the River Goes" is among the best faux-Zeppelin tracks I've ever heard; and "Creep" sounds like a mix of Alice in Chains (the vocals and trancelike atmosphere) and Nirvana (the dynamic shifts near the end). Not one song features the group distinctively striving to carve out their own style. Now, if anyone tries to tell you these songs are bad - and a lot of "hip" critics will - they're being overly judgmental. You see, this is good imitation Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Led Zeppelin and Nirvana. Originality does count for a lot in music, but sometimes some good simple rock and roll can really deliver: outside of the three songs I just mentioned, the totally unpretentious, basic rocker "Sex Type Thing" is my favorite song on the album. I also like "Wicked Garden", too, even though again it's totally unoriginal. Same for "Piece of Pie" and "Dead and Bloated". Solid rock songs, but you've certainly heard both before, just by different titles and different bands. And in no way is this a perfect album. Hence the 3.5. See, I don't like "Sin", overlong and dry. Or "Naked Sunday" - what's up with the echoing drums? Another trick they took from Zeppelin. And "Crackerman" is a dull, trite mess. Let's not talk about the interlude "Wetting My Bed", either. I actually don't see why critics ripped this for being so derivative - sure, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam are awesome, but neither is terribly original, either. It's a fun rock album though.

5 comments about American V: A Hundred Highways.

1. I'm not going to pretend to be musically astute and theoretically compare how this album may have sounded if the Great JRC himself had been around to approve/disapprove the use of cellos in "Help Me."
   
   I'm going to tell you that when I thought "The Man Comes Around" would always be my favorite Cash album, it's only because this one hadn't been made yet. Each and every cut touches my heart . . . comforts me, delights me, gives me courage. (Yeah, even "Like the 309")
   
   So, I'm gonna make this short and sweet. Thank God, thank God and Rick Rubin for One More Cash.



2. CD arrived in excellent condition. If you buy this, be prepared to hear a Johnny Cash we never knew. I could feel the heartache of deceased spouse.



3. I,m trying to come up with some eloquent,and expressive words to describe my personal feelings,after listening to this "masterpiece", but I simply can't come up with the words. Only to say that the Legend saved the best for last.



4. I have been a casual Johnny Cash fan for about 5 years. So I can assure you as a casual fan that this CD had to earn all five stars out of me. I wish I could have given it 10. What struck me the most was the passion in Johnny's frail, course, yet emotionally pleasing voice. You feel like your right there in the room with him. After listening to this CD you feel like your saying goodbye to an old friend. The CD feels like a right of passage for Johnny. Most of the songs are covers, but he makes them his own (which shows just how in touch he was musically). When you listen to this CD Johnny will take you on a tour of his heart. I especially loved the songs "Help Me" and "I came To Believe." This CD left me humbled, and sad to lose a close friend I never knew I had.



5. With a somber voice, Cash gently sings his final studio recordings with a subtle release, however it is not the sound that will take you down in spirit so much as the songs themselves. They are like tomes, farewell notes and final goodbyes that touch on different subjects that all seem to point to the same outcome; that this is the end. It is not my favorite of the American Recordings but the fact that it is the last, with a song list that denotes such finality, it is sometimes more than haunting. Goodbye dear sir, I will miss the songs that were never sung but am happy to be experiencing the laughter, loss and love that weave together in the ones that you did.

4 comments about Fire Songs.

1. ... especially like the cover of the Cure's Just Like Heaven. It's country in the way Neil Young is country (i.e., not really)



2. The Watson Twins are incredibly talented and this album is a solid purchase for any fan of outstanding songwriting. A special treat is a wonderful cover of a classic love song by The Cure. My only concern with this album is that it is very, very mellow. Other than the opening track and perhaps one other, all songs are slow and somewhat sleepy. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but a bit of variety could have raised the value of what is nonetheless a great album.



3. The Watson Twins once again make what was old new again. With shades of the 60s and 70s hovering over all these songs, the Watson Twins bring a new energy to folk/rock and usher it into the 2000s. A must buy for fans of lilting harmonies and intelligent lyrics.



4. the energy of "fire songs" is a bit more vibrant than "southern manners", but the songs are just as gorgeous! the watson twins harmonize like no others and seem to bare their souls through lyrics & melodies.
   HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

5 comments about Dookie.

1. This album is a 90's masterpiece. I'm so tied of "true" punk fans that whine about Green Day not being punk enough. They combined perfect melody with fast punk riffs better than anyone. People will still be listening to this album 20 years from now.



2. Dookie is the best album of Green Day! It still packs the rawness of its "Sweet Children," days but has the new shine from Reprise Records. And even though this album isn't my favorite (that would be Warning, which was released on 2000) it is still better than all their other albums combined, far better than American Idiot.
   If you want to experience Green Day as they used to be, and know and understand what the oldie Green Day fans cherish, this is the album to buy! So besides rushing out to buy American Idiot just because a lot of the fans now are comprised of people who never really knew about this band till its release, advise you to, just buy Dookie and see if you like it. Because mostly Green Day is comprised of that sound and taste, this IS Green Day at its finest!



3. I remember hearing this cd way back when I was in fifth grade and I still listen to it once in awhile. Its far from there best cd but contain the classic tracks Longview, Welcome to Paradise, Basket Case, and When I Come around. The whole cd flows well and I recommend it to anyone who likkes music. Its too bad they started the whole crappy pop punk scene we have now.
   
   By the way, Longview is one of the greatest songs not only of the 90's but of all time.



4. This was another album I loved in middle school. MTV loved it, Rolling Stone loved it, so I bought it. It's catchy pop music. Sorry, but it's not punk music. Not even close. This is fun pop music but nothing particularly insightful or ground breaking and will not stand the test of time.



5. The multi-platinum success of this album brought Green Day into the mainstream of pop/punk bands. Their following consisted of mainly teeny boppers and their copy-cat kool-aid dyed hair, yet the band had songs that you couldn't help but sing along to. The songs are witty, funny and catchy, so you can't help but like them. When this CD came out the band was worried about not being in the "punk rock" category after selling millions of records, but who cares? If the music is good then it's good.
   
   Yes, there is nothing original about Green Day or the songs on "Dookie", however singer Billy Joe still writes clever, catchy songs. So if you're into bands like The Buzzcocks, The Ramones or the Clash, you'll like Green Day. Most memorable songs on the album are "Long View", "Basket Case", "Welcome To Paradise" and "when I Come Around".

5 comments about Live 2003 (CD & DVD).

1. it's a awesome album that everyone should have , the performent on DVD , the music on CD's beautiful.



2. i bought it in october 18, its november 22, and im still waiting for it. where is it?????????



3. The rate would be a good 4,5... but the DVD doesn't play in Europe... So don't buy it if not American... otherwise music is neat, enjoy it, America.
   
   Marko Smolej, Slovenia



4. I received this product on time, and was very pleased with my purchase. This is a very good concert for those that really enjoy Coldplay and have not been fortunate enough to go to a real concert.



5. I went to a live Coldplay show and this DVD was as spectacular as the live show!! I reccomend this to any Coldpay fan or anyone that is a fan of live music. ENJOY!!

4 comments about She Ain't Me.

1. In fairness I've only listened through a couple of times but I'm sorely disappointed in the effort. Carrie Rodriguez is a remarkable talent who has thrived in her partnership with Chip Taylor. What worked so well for and between them was at least in part his ear for a good tune and his world-weariness that cast the perfect backdrop for her to shine. She was always able to present herself as a quite plausible peer among an ever-so-slightly rough crowd of seasoned rowdies. The feeling that everything was sort of thrown together on the spot out of pure raw talent and experience worked well to showcase her multiple talents.
   
   This album, on the other hand, is pure marketing. From the dolled-up photos to the way-overproduced feel, this is all wrong. (Interestingly, Gracenote has it classified as "Pop.") It really sounds to me like some kind of mutant packaging project where the idea was to try to force her into clones of songs by one each of a dozen recognizable and highly marketable girl singers. It doesn't work.
   
   I don't mean to say she is nothing without Chip Taylor. Far from it. She is exceptionally talented. But I do mean that Chip Taylor has clearly played a crucial role in clearing the space to let her work shine. If she's going to flourish without him she's going to have to find enough spine to follow her art and ditch the marketing team that is serving her so poorly. Unless, of course, I've got it wrong and the gig with Chip Taylor was just to pay the bills and she was merely the best actress ever pretending to be into all that while she waited for her big chance to step out and make some pap under her own name.
   
   Look, she's a terrific musician who can also turn a phrase with that delicious twang of hers. Casting her as the girl singer on a pop record is a tremendous waste. If you want to see what makes Carrie Rodriguez special look up the YouTube video of her playing off Chip Taylor on a live rendition of Wild Thing. She turns just the right phrase with just the right inflection and then she tears into that fiddle. Please, spare me the airbrush.



2. rodriguez is currently touring with lucinda williams...one new york paper gave this album two and a half stars and so i listened to it, because they were being unfair...some of her lyrics are flat but ms. rodriguez's singing makes them listenable....plus her band always keeps things moving nicely...i look forward to hearing her first album...



3. In her second solo album Carrie Rodriguez leaves her fruitful partnership with songwriter Chip Taylor further behind. Most of the songs are at least partly hers: she collaborates with a group of talented co-writers and is backed up by a really great band, led by guitarist Hans Holzen, that forms a perfect foil for her distinctively smoky voice. The total sound, overseen by veteran producer Malcolm Burn, covers both pop and country territory but is all of a piece, avoiding the slightly overproduced feel of her first solo outing, "Seven Angels on a Bicycle."
   
   Whether laying down the political gauntlet in "Infinite Night" and "Mask of Moses," or mulling over love's sorrows in "Rag Doll" and "Can't Cry Enough," or getting down with some gritty fiddle playing in "Absence" (too bad there isn't more on this album) Rodriguez delivers unforced, sincere emotion, even when her different vocal registers aren't perfectly in sync (high notes tend to be little more than whispers). The title track is a knowing, sassy take on the old "cheating song" theme that could well be delivered by the likes of Dolly Parton. It has an agreeable way of getting stuck in one's head that suggests it could get lots of airplay. I've listened to all of this artist's albums from the beginning and eagerly look forward to more.



4. This album is fresh, inventive and well crafted. Stylistically it ranges from folk to rock to infectious bluegrass but maintains continuity. The lyrics are unusual, often catchy, and they resonate. There is some nice fiddle on several of the tracks. Absence is one of the best, reminiscent of Alison Krauss and Union Station. Other songs like Grace and Infinite Night remind me of Jonatha Brooke. However, Carrie Rodriguez really has her own sound that is indefinable and very appealing.