| Slaid Cleaves (Broke Down) Philo Records �He�s got �it�, whatever �it� is.� Says Ray Wylie Hubbard-about Slaid Cleaves and his melancholy song-stories. Ray Wylie Hubbard, who originally wrote �Up Against The Wall, Redneck Mother� what seems like eons ago and who is presently making a come-back with albums of his own-knows his song writing-so I�ll have to agree with his sentiments. I think the �it� Ray Wylie was referring to in his statement, is simply great, though somewhat woebegone song-writing talent that really captures the listener�s ear. Cleaves characters all have small-town hang-ups and short-lived small hopes, and each yearn to escape from the blues in their own way. This makes for some intriguing, though, depressing shit. These characters may be down and out, on the lam, or heading for a let-down-but, they all still possess a will to survive that keeps them their dignity. Things could be worse. No one in Slaid�s universe ever totally gives up. The great, darkly poetic lyrics are held up by a frame of desperation in the music that keeps the songs aloft in your mind. The country tinged �Key Chain�, about a man who loses one key at a time from his key chain was one of my favorites. He loses his wife, his home and his job, but in the end he still has one key left: the one to his ignition. � I�m turnin� that key lettin� out the clutch I never did like this town that much� Well, I read that Slaid drives a �74 Dodge Dart Sport, so let�s hope that �Key Chain� wasn�t autobiographical. Holland K. Smith (Walking Heart Attack) Top Cat Records Holland K. Smith calls his music Texas Roots-Rock and I�ll have to agree with such an encompassing description. I heard spicy bits of Blues, Swing, Jazz, Rockabilly and Country when I listened to his new release �Walking Heart Attack� and enjoyed every minute of it. Holland sports a 50�s Elvis retro look with his all black outfit and spiffy goatee. The album covers shows him leaning jauntily on a pool-table eyeing a hot babe in a red skirt. This picture pretty much let�s you know what kind of listening experience you�re in for with Holland at the helm. Holland�s Jazz influenced Guitar style shines throughout, and his confident singing demonstrates that many a night gigging in bars trains a voice like nothing else can. Holland�s regular working band consisting of Eric Mathew on Upright and Fender Bass, and Kevin Shermerhorn on drums are filled out with John Street on Keyboards and the White Trash Horn Section on two cuts. The album consists of 10 kicking originals and two well chosen covers: Jimmy Forrest�s �Night Train� and B.B. King�s �Beautician�s Blues�. Holland K. Smith and his band will be embarking upon a World tour this Summer and Fall, so keep and eye out. Until you can catch �em live, check out his album �Walking Heart Attack� for some Texas Roots-Rock that won�t let you down. |