I should hate this really, hundreds of singer-songwriters trying to earn a crust in Americana / country and a flash Harry actor rolls up and bankrolls as fine a crew as one could wish for to make an album.
Despite this, it’s not half bad. I never much watch television so I’ve never seen “24” and have no image of Donald’s lad, which might help.
Opener “Come Back Down” is a fine piece of Americana with pleasing steel guitar and Sutherland singing as sadly as a man down to his last mansion.
“American Farmer” should be really annoying as the very rich Keefer sings about “the goddamn savings and loan” but there’s some fine blues guitar, the vocals are a perfect and the lyrics sound a heartfelt tribute to hardworking farmers ripped off by corporate bastards far away. The later “Down Below” is a nice piece of blues.
Also good is “Goodbye California” and “Cruel World”, a suicide note. There’s no duff songs, although a few slip by making less impression. His band is first-rate.
It all works because he sounds genuine, and while the playing is world-class, it’s not flashy or an excuse for him to show off. He plays to the song, something we drummers appreciate. There’s some gallows humour, such as “The Bottle Let Me Down” the lament of a drunk who for once fails to leave sobriety; “Cruel World” has some cute female harmony at odds with the black topic of suicide; perhaps it is to encourage a crowd singalong to “goodbye, goodbye, goodbye”.
A fine collection of Americana and country, much as it grieves me to say, and I’ve been playing this for pleasure.
JMC
• Suicide is obviously not a laughing matter. If you are feeling down and want suicide prevention help and advice, contact the Papyrus Hopeline UK on 0800 068 4141, text 07860 039 967 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org. Out of hours mental health support is available in East Cheshire on 01625 505666. The Access Team is the single point of contact 24/7 for North Staffordshire: call 0300 123 0907 (option one) or 07739 775202 if this number is unavailable. To contact the Samaritans, call freephone 116 123.
