|
 If you want to be in on the start of something VERY BIG, get hold of a copy of the Gringo Kings self-titled debut album.
These guys are going places. It may take a while but at some point, some right-thinking producer, promoter or manager is going to hear this album and say: "Sign them".
Few albums have a song which would place the vocalist, the fiddle player, the writer and the band in line for a top award. This one does.
There's a load of Bryan Burns in lead vocalist Scott Burgess's singing; there's immense power in David Palmer's lead guitar work; there's solid work from the rest of the band and some wonderful sessions from Clayton Bankston on fiddle.
And the writing (mainly Scott and Crystal Burgess with contributions from guitarist Torey Smith and some other friends) is first class. And now that the guys have had the album re-mastered, it is - well it is simply brilliant.
And that stand out track? It's "Ridin' In Heaven" - a brilliant tribute to the late Chris LeDoux. Overall, this is THE best cowboy song I've heard in about ten years of review writing. Any Country station worthy of the name should be playing this track.
If this song gets airplay, it will sell like hot cakes. Burgess' vocals are intensely emotional, the fiddle is extraordinarily melodic and evocative and the band's backing is restrained and - well - perfect!
Burgess can belt out songs like Meatloaf does, but here, he somehow redirects all that power into emotion: not over the top, weepy stuff; this is deep gravelly tones showing a cowboy's sadness.
The lyrics avoid Hollywood mushy and a tag line which says it all:
"I wish I were dreamin'; I wish it weren't true,
"What they said about you, Chris LeDoux."
Clayton Bankston's not part of the band, but he deserves very special mention for his fiddle playing on this track. It is astonishing. He gets that fiddle to add depth, and emotion and light and shade to the track. It is astonishing.
The drums (Mike Reeves) and bass (Randy Lincoln) are solid and steady; that the guitar work of Torey Smith and David Palmer goes almost unheard doesn't mean it's not there - it's just done absolutely right.
So what of the other ten tracks. Well, these guys have almost nailed it. They really could go places!
Clayton Bankston's fiddle playing on "Just A Bunch Of Boys" is - again - sublime; Torey Smith's harmonica cuts in at just the right points and the acoustic guitar work is stuff I wish I could play.
"Texas Music" - written by Scott and Crystal Burgess with help from Tony Desmuke - is about making it ... or not; giving in to Nashpop and Nashville ... or not. And it has some of the finest lyrics on the album.
"Rather live on pennies, an' stay honest and true;
"Than to be a puppet on a string, controlled by you.
"Write more songs that came from me;
"Livin' the lonestar state where I can be free."
 David Palmer's lead guitar and Burgess's vocals on "Thank God For The Cowboy" are brilliant. The guitar sounds like it really wants to break out, but Palmer holds it down and the subdued power is immense!
Scott Burgess may or may not be a fan of legendary Texas singer-songwriter Bryan Burns, I don't know. But there's a lot of Burns' style in the title track and, more especially in his vocals there.
"The Famous Cure" is another track that has much of Bryan Burns in it and it's a wonderful song! Many have written songs using the names of drinks. Few have managed to add a wistful sadness to the vocals like Burgess does here; and few have put such good lyrics to the idea!
"Beautiful Life" lets Burgess show his vocal skills at their best. There's a rough edge to his voice, the kind of sound that makes Nashville producers (idiots) scream: "Clear your throat." That's why Nashville has a tendency not to produce much Country Music these days. Because that rough edge ADDS to the character of the song, makes it real. NICE JOB!
The same applies to the vocals on "We Were Friends" and it has a wonderful electric guitar intro.
On "Ever Since You Said Goodbye", guitarist Torey Smith - who wrote the song with help from Burgess - takes the lead vocals. The harmonies here are up with the best Nashville will ever muster.
Two disappointments: on "Cheyenne", the band sounds like it struggles to find the song's rhythm. In places, drummer Mike Reeves plays brilliantly. But when the song's just (pardon me guys) chugging along, he gets too complicated.
And I find "Guts Or Glory" dissatisfying. The lyrics are brilliant and the harmonies are tight as. But it never quite gets going. I find myself wanting to shout, "Let's Go" and have the thing break into a regular beat. Never does. Don't like that. That's just me, though.
And my message to Scott, Mike, Torey, David and Randy: guys, get this music out there. You really have cracked it.
My View: Texas Country Music at it's finest. Set these boys on their way. BUY IT!!
What do YOU think?? Tell us here!
|
Copyright 1996 - 2008 Rodeo Attitude, LLC., All rights reserved.