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| Gary Allan's 2002 d�but CD, Alright Guy, was one of the more notable country music CDs that I reviewed last year, and See If I Care is equally engaging. While Allan's vocals lack any particular recognizability, they are nonetheless pleasant and never irritating or annoying. Although it was hardly necessary, he is to be commended for giving exposure to no less than seven background vocalists, including the return of Harry Stinson and John Wesley Ryles. Jim Lauderdale is featured on the strangely upbeat "Guys like Me" (very similar to Ringo Starr's "Act Naturally"), which laments the dwindling number of nightclubs featuring live instrumentalists. Female vocalists Lisa Cochran and Marabeth Jordan add an extra choral touch on Phillip White and Shawn Camp's "I Can Love You". Chris Stapleton lends not only his background vocals but a kick-ass, not quite rockabilly, collaboration with electric guitarist Michael Henderson (also performing here) on the opening track, "Drinkin' Dark Whiskey (Tellin' Dark Lies)". This condemnation of the devil's brew contains the sorry truth that "It loosens your tongue, but it never tells the truth". Another smart move was to retain almost all of the top-notch team of supporters players who appeared on Alright Guy, including steel guitarist Robby Turner, alternating with guest performer Dan Dugmore. Steel guitar naturally offers a country-blues edge for which I have a much greater affinity than straightforward C&W, but even the songs of that persuasion, characterized by the inclusion of fiddle and mandolin (Hank Singer) and keyboards (Steve Nathan) are likeable, e.g. "Tough Little Boys", with Stuart Duncan guesting on fiddle, and the title track, by Jamie O'Hara. Among the numerous wonderful songwriters covered here are Liz Rose and Pat McLaughlin, who wrote "Songs About Rain", which would fit nicely into a Blue Rodeo repertoire if Greg Keelor and Jim Cuddy weren't already so adept in the composing department themselves. I'm also partial to Chad Cromwell's drumming; he instinctively knows when to pull out all the stops and when to lay back. His rhythmic handiwork is supported by Eric Darken on percussion and Michael Rhodes on bass. One of the many stand-out tracks is the Zydeco-tinged "Nothing on but the Radio", by Byron Hill, Brice Long and Odie Blackmon. Jim Hoke provides the requisite accordion work here and on "Songs About Rain", as well as harmonica on the legendary Jesse Winchester, "A Showman's Life", which also features the instantly recognizable Willie Nelson on duet vocals and acoustic guitar - a perfect ending! As on Alright Guy, Gary shares in the songwriting credits on only one track - "You Don't Know a Thing about Me", co-written with O'Hara and Blackmon. I'm looking forward to hearing what he can come up with on his own, as he certainly has the ear to know which of his peers to go to for inspiration! The praise I have for this excellent collection of tracks is, naturally, extended to the unnamed contributing musicians - it's all good! |
| SEE IF I CARE - GARY ALLAN |
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