Singer / Songwriter Jesse Winchester ★★★★ A Reasonable Amount of Trouble Appleseed Recordings Jesse Winchester lost his battle with cancer in April, a few weeks short of his 70th birthday. A Reasonable Amount of Trouble, a title taken from a line spoken by Humphrey Bogart in The Maltese Falcon, serves as Winchester’s graceful farewell. There’s a philosophical approach in the songs that bookend the album. “The sun is going down now/there
are shadows all around,” Winchester sings on “All That We Have is Now,” a reminder to enjoy the moment as it will not pass this way again. “Just So Much,” takes on the feel of a prayer as Winchester considers the role of God in dealing with life’s trials. Winchester lightens the mood on “Never Forget to Boogie,” a dance song that echoes the spirit of his freewheeling “Rhumba Man” from 1977. On “A Little Louisiana,” Winchester mixes Cajun and Zydeco for a tasty musical gumbo. The CD also features versions of songs from the ‘50 and early ‘60s that influenced Winchester. “Devil or Angel,” is a pleasing mix of country and rhythm and blues. “Rhythm of the Rain,” the signature song of the Cascades, offers a soothing tale for the brokenhearted. “Whispering Bells,” recorded by the Del-Vikings, finds Winchester savoring the pleasures of doo wop and harmony singing. 12 songs 42 minutes Joe Ely ★★★1/2 B4 84 Rack ‘em Records Joe Ely has been a musical explorer, combining elements of rock, country, blues and folk in his recordings and live performances. The Texas native also has embraced changes in technology as heard on B4 84, a collection of previously unheard recordings from the early 1980s featuring an Apple computer and Roland drum machine. Ely demonstrates that a roots-rock sensibility and electronic music are not incongruous. The sonic enhancements complement rather than overwhelm such tracks as the Buddy Holly-inspired “You Got the Broken Heart” and the edgy “What’s Shakin’ Tonight? The electronics add a sense of urgency to “Imagine Houston” and the frenetic “My Baby Thinks She’s French,” which shows off Ely’s gift for wordplay. “Dame Tu Mano” employs a catchy Tex-Mex rhythms
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that incorporates a bit of “Twist and Shout.” Today, computers are an accepted component of making music. Ely’s B4 84 shows he was ahead of his time and many of his contemporaries. 10 songs 35 minutes. Sutter Zachman ★★★ Repeat Offender Modern Roots Music Sutter Zachman sums up his approach to songwriting in one sentence. “I like songs that have some surprises, but that are simple enough that you can sing them around a campfire,” he says. The Los Angeles-based artist lives up to that philosophy on Repeat Offender, a four-song EP. “Back to Sleep” is a dreamy, mid-tempo number that combines a soothing melody with Zachman’s warm vocals.
ter she gave up for adoption as a baby. Taylor, who plays guitar, dulcimer and harmonica, writes songs that fit in the country/folk mold. “Can’t Even Pray” finds the song’s protagonist at a crossroads, uncertain of where to turn. “Look up to heaven/With nothing to say/You know you’re in trouble/When you can’t even pray.” He serves up a change of pace with the musically feisty “Dig a
Hole,” which recalls Mary Chapin Carpenter’s up-tempo hits of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. Among the songs by Taylor’s band, “Anna Marie” is the highlight, a wistful, Cajun-flavored waltz about a sailor being separated from his true love. 11 songs 42 minutes
“Why Do You Need Money?” is delivered over silky, soulful groove that recalls the sound of 1970s Philadelphia International music. Amanda Russell’s violin helps to lift the song melodically. “America” has lyrical overtones found in the work of Jackson Browne and Paul Simon. “Once Was a Girl” is a slice of romantic pop that captures the end of a relationship. “Once there was girl; now there’s nothing,” Zachman sings. With Repeat Offender, Zachman shows there’s something to look forward to—his next release. 4 songs 12 minutes. Dulcie Taylor and Friends ★★★ Only Worn One Time Mesa/Bluemoon Recordings Beginnings and endings are the underlying themes of Only Worn One Time, the new studio album from Dulcie Taylor. The CD also features four songs written and sung by members of her supporting band. Taylor has a sharp eye for details that helps to elevate her songs above the norm. The title track deals with the rush of emotions a man feels when he discovers the wedding dress of his ex-wife as he is trying to make a new start. “Like My Momma Loved Me” finds a woman trying to start a relationship with a grown-up daugh-
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Dale Watson ★★★ The Truckin’ Sessions 3 Red River Entertainment From “Six Days on the Road” to “Lookin’ at the World through a Windshield,” trucking songs have been a vibrant part of American music. Dale Watson keeps the tradition with The Truckin’ Sessions 3, a collection of original songs. With a voice that recalls Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash, Watson has a good ear and feel for the genre. “It’s Been a Long Truckin’ Day” captures the working-class blues of a frustrated trucker when “every foot feels like a mile.” On “Freewheelin’,” Watson describes the ups and downs of a life on the road using lines supplied by truckers themselves. “I’m a Truckin’” is a celebration of a trucker’s lifestyle that recalls Harlan Howard’s “Busted” in form and structure. “Suicide Sam” and “Lugnut Larry” portray the lighter side of trucking, while the Western swing of “Texas Armadillo” details an encounter with roadkill. “I Live on Truckin’ Time” is a pensive ballad about a trucker’s connection to the road. “We’re Truckin’ Along” is a spirited duet with Amber Digby about a husband-and-wife trucking team. The album ends fittingly with “10-100,” trucker slang for a bathroom break. It’s a pedal-to-the-metal instrumental that showcases Watson’s Lone Star Band. 14 songs 37 minutes. ■