James Scott Fant - Pig Iron: The Blue Room Sessions I

James Scott Fant - Pig Iron: The Blue Room Sessions I
2012, James Scott Fant

James Scott Fant gave up dreams of rock n roll stardom long ago.  This working class son has been through the ringer of the music world; gone to Nashville and returned home to Northeast Texas.  He’s been through the wars both personally and professionally, but he’s always made it through, guitar in hand.  Back in his Northeast Texas home, Fant has won the respect of colleagues and fans alike.  James Scott Fant continues to work every day to be the best singer/songwriter he can be.  It must be working, as he is a regular guest at songwriting circles throughout Texas.  James Scott Fant recently embarked on a series of three five-song EPs under the moniker The Blue Room Sessions.  Recorded in his home with the help of wife, musician, producer and occasional co-writer Sandra Manseill, The Blue Room Sessions represent Fant’s most personal work to date.  The recently released first EP in the series, Pig Iron, will make a believer out of you.

Pig Iron opens with “Out Of Canaan”, a working class an anthem that underscores a carpe diem attitude.  It’s the anthem for a man who has run out of patience waiting for deliverance, and is headed out into the world to find it for himself.  The song is singularly moving in intent and melody.  You’d almost hesitate to use the word gorgeous here due to the stripped down nature of the arrangement, but there is a singular beauty to the song that’s hard to ignore.  Fant sounds more than a bit like a younger Willie Nelson on “Worse For The Wear”, a highly nuanced paean to perseverance.  Once again, there is sort of a primitive beauty here that’s impossible to miss.  The song isn’t a ballad, per se, but definitely pays tribute to the idea of surviving on one’s wits (and perhaps even a little bit of luck).  Fant makes a quiet orchestra of his guitar here, crafting an arrangement that perfectly fits the mood of the song; never doing too much or too little in the process.

“Restless Wind” explores the transitory nature of mankind; the need for change.  There is a darkness that overhangs this song, as Fant touches on issues of divorce and feeling stuck.  The regret here is not so much for the events, but for their base cause.  “8 Lb. Sledge” is a delicious bit of acoustic blues that will get inside your head and stay there.  It’s not often that a low key acoustic number will make you want to get up and dance, but you can just hear the R&B backbeat trying to break out of this with a screaming electric guitar.  Fant manages to do more with his guitar and voice than many artists could do with a full band.  Pig Iron winds down with the singer/songwriter panache of “Annie Sings The Blues”.  Once again, Fant may remind listeners of a younger Willie Nelson or perhaps even Townes Van Zandt, but these comparisons are incidental.  “Annie Sings The Blues” is a living still life to the connection between singer/songwriter and listener, and how an eternity of lifetimes can occur within the bounds of a single song.

James Scott Fant isn’t just a singer/songwriter, he’s an artist.  On Pig Iron, Fant paints masterpieces with nothing more than six strings and a road-worn voice full of primitive beauty.  Fant is ultimate confirmation that institutions such as Nashville have forgotten what making music is about.  Music is about real people like James Scott Fant putting themselves on the line night after night, telling real stories about real people and real life events, in wonderfully crafted and distinctive songs and voices.  If you find one new artist to follow in 2012, make it James Scott Fant.

Rating:                  5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about James Scott Fant at www.facebook.com/scottfant or www.reverbnation.com/jamesfant.  Pig Iron is available through the etailers below.  You may also purchase the download through the Wildy's World Amazon store.

          MP3                  iTunes


Please note that the Amazon.com prices listed above are as of the posting date, and may have changed. Wildy's World is not responsible for price changes instituted by Amazon.com.

Two Cent Revival - The Devil's In This Whiskey

Two Cent Revival - The Devil's In This Whiskey
2011, Two Cent Revival

Brazilian-born, Texas-raised singer/songwriter Matt Jones found love for his Texas roots only after making the move to New York City.  The emotional resonance of being so far from home plays through Two Cent Revival's new EP, The Devil's In This Whiskey, available June 15, 2011.  With a mature writing style born of the desolate honesty of Bob Dylan and Townes Van Zandt, Jones spins tales of emotional darkness and redemption, and the constant pull of both forces on the soul.

The Devil's In This Whiskey opens with "Rear View Mirror", a catchy, id-tempo Americana blend about running away from a past the narrator can't escape.  This anthem of a tortured soul comes with recognition of the trap and in ability to stop running.  Jones sounds a great deal like Paul Gross on vocals, with a steady baritone born of country grit and a touch of folk/rock seer.  "The Devil's In This Whiskey" is a brilliant rune about losing control to the bottle, in spite of having every reason not to.  He's gone to the well one too many times and spoiled the one relationship with any hope of keeping him sane.  Jones begs for mercy, expecting none, in the beginning of a spiral of competing needs.  It's an impressively compelling story-song with many layers.

"Give Me More Time" is catchy number about trying to pick someone up at a bar and being painfully aware of one's own inabilities while trying to make it look good for your friends.  The internal conversation here is well-wrought, reflecting a man who spends too much time thinking and not enough simply doing as insecurities plague his every move.  "Save Our Souls" starts out as a plaintive country/rock ballad, but turns into a Doors-esque epic rocker.  Full of urgency and desperation, this tremendous piece of songwriting shows its progressive rock roots as things swing further and further out of balance.  Two Cent Revival closes with "Back In The Day", a romantic retrospective based in a paucity of emotion.  The narrator isn't certain about happiness, but remembers a time when life was simpler as a bright light.  The solid Americana arrangement lends to the emotionally maudlin tenor of the song.

The songs on The Devil's In This Whiskey are well crafted Americana/country hybrids, but it is the personal story-telling style and pure charisma of Matt Jones that gives Two Cent Revival their wings.  Jones would be equally as compelling alone on stage with a guitar as he is in front of a band, but the full band flavor of the recordings certainly gives additional oomph to Jones' tales of imperfection, pathos and hope.  Two Cent Revival is going to make a lot of new fans with songs like this.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Two Cent Revival at www.twocentrevival.com or www.myspace.com/twocentrevival.  The Devil's In This Whiskey drops on June 15, 2011.  You can pre-order digital copies from Amazon.com.  Expect wider availability upon release.

Joshua Panda - Joshua Panda

Joshua Panda - Joshua Panda
2010, Joshua Panda

You'd never guess it, but Joshua Panda is all of twenty-five years old. Keep that in mind as you listen to his self-titled album, a recent independent release. Panda sounds like a seasoned story-teller and songwriter in the vein of Randy Newman. With influences as diverse as Van Morrison, Tom Waits, Sam Cook, Townes Van Zandt, Kris Kristofferson and Otis Redding, Panda has a brilliant performing persona that's too good to be anything other than genuine. Joshua Panda is proof positive; encompassing twelve original songs and one cover that leave no doubt about Panda's talent, durability and essence as a songwriter or performer.

Joshua Panda opens with "Masquerade", a devilishly good bit of Americana songwriting that would seem more at home amidst the great singer/songwriters of the 1970's. Panda shows a lyrical depth and sense of melody that are rare in combination. "Rosie" is a rousing number straight out of New Orleans. You'll want to dance along as Panda spins a fun tale in an irresistible arrangement. "It's All Relative" has a dually melancholy/hopeful feel in a lover's lament about the world outside and the saving grace of love. Panda tackles "Are You Hurting At All" with a classic country flare that would sound at home in Nashville in the 1950's or early 1960's. It's a highly stylish and realistic bit of songwriting that should sit well across generations of listeners.

"Pastor" is a mildly raucous bluegrass tune sung from the perspective of a father who fends off a wolf from his daughter. The wolf just happens to be the local pastor. It's a great tune; very well written and Panda is in perfect voice here. "Tattle Tales" is the most purely entertaining track on the album. Panda will remind listeners of Randy Newman with his wit and lyrical touch as well as his musical versatility and tendency to write songs "in character", and "Tattle Tales" is a perfect example of these qualities. "Lemonhead Wine" documents an unfortunate stay in South Dakota involving government work and the narrator's preferred method for passing time. All of this is offered in an entertaining country/zydeco blend that's thoroughly infectious.

"Weight In Gold" is a utilitarian love song, singing the praises of a good woman in classic country overtones. "I-77 Blues" is more early rock and rhythm n blues. Panda is very convincing through the rapid-fire lyrics and vibrant arrangement that features some of the hottest piano playing this side of Jerry Lee Lewis. "Mama's Song" is a loving tribute of sorts, to a mom who clung to her son when her husband left, only to lose that son to music. It's a sweet number that uses gentle humor to describe an entirely human situation. Panda closes with a wild version of Tom Waits' "Come On Up To The House", a party-time song done in the zydeco style. Just try to sit still.

Joshua Panda runs through much of the American songbook stylistically. Country, zydeco, rock n roll, rhythm and blues and even hints of gospel and soul can be found on Panda's self-titled album. What's abundantly clear is that Joshua Panda is an entertainer with a capital E. Panda's versatility and depth as a performer is matched by raw musical talent. Panda walks you through vignettes drawn from the lives of persons both imagined and real in much the same fashion as Randy Newman. Even if you're lukewarm on the music on Joshua Panda, the energy will draw you in. Don't miss this guy.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Joshua Panda at http://www.joshuapanda.com/ or www.myspace.com/joshuapanda.  Joshua Panda was originally due for an August release but appears to have been delayed.  You can preorder the CD from Panda's website.  Expect digital availability from iTunes and Amazon.

Review: Carrie Rodriguez - Love And Circumstances

Carrie Rodriguez - Love And Circumstances
2010, Ninth Street Opus

Over the past decade Carrie Rodriquez has gone from being a top notch session violinist to one of the most talented and sought after performers of Country music; the main reason being that Rodriguez eschews the plastic tendencies of commercial country radio for a sound that's true to her own tastes and history. We first became familiar with Rodriguez because of 2008's She Ain't Me, an album that sounded good at the time and simply gets better with age. Rodriguez's 2009 release, Live In Louisville, was so good it wound up in our Top-20 albums of 2009. After eight albums in as many years, Rodriguez returns in 2010 with Love And Circumstances, a cover album featuring songs from some of the best country and folk singer/songwriters of the past forty years.

Love And Circumstances opens with "Big Love" (Ry Cooder/John Hiatt/Nick Lowe/Jim Keltner), a song of hope and yearning that's full of a pragmatic beauty. The song has a rootsy Americana feel that should make it a commercial success. On "Wide River To Cross" (Julie & Buddy Miller) Rodriguez uses her warm voice to invoke the determination of someone making the long journey home after a long time away. It's a gorgeous melody that's moving in its simplicity and grace. "Eyes On The Prize" (M. Ward) has a classic country story song feel that jibes well with Rodriguez's easy vocal style perfectly. Rodriguez captures a sense of tragic hopefulness on "Waltzing's For Dreamers" (Richard Thompson), adding her distinctively mournful violin into the mix as well.

"I'm Not For Love" (Sandrine Daniels) is a heartbreaker, written from the perspective of one who's been burned too many times. Rodriguez highlights the song with a voice that emotes tragic beauty and a world-weary mien, and Bill Frisell's guitar work completes the sound. Rodriguez hits gold with her take on Merle Haggard's "(Today) I Started Loving You Again". The dark textures of her voice wrap around the melancholy feel of the medley in this song, creating a sense of time and place that is palpable. One of the highlights of the album is Townes Van Zandt's "Rex's Blues". Aside from her voice, Rodriguez has an inspired energy in this song that shines through every nook and cranny. Whatever the inspiration, it burns beneath the surface but you can't fail to hear it. The most moving song on Love And Circumstances is Rodriguez's interpretation of the Hank Williams classic "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry". Rodriguez invests the song with a believable sense of loss, and the bluesy guitar interplay is a nice touch. Rodriguez closes with "La Punalada Trapera" (Sosa Tomas Mendez). It's a gorgeous tune, and the weight of the story is meted out in the deliberate guitar work that fills out the song.

Carrie Rodriguez always produces compelling listening experiences when she steps into the studio. Love And Circumstances is no exception. The choice to immerse herself in classic songs and hidden gems from the pens of others is a brave one, forcing Rodriguez to find chemistry with the voices of the creator of each song. Carrie Rodriguez manages to make each song on Love And Circumstances her own without abandoning the character of each song. The musicianship is top-notch as always, and it would be hard to say that Rodriguez has ever been in finer voice. Love And Circumstances is a keeper.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Carrie Rodriguez at http://www.carrierodriguez.com/ or www.myspace.com/carrielrodriguez. Love And Circumstances is available as either a CD or Download from Amazon.com.

Review: Leigh Sloggett - Looking For The Clues

Leigh Sloggett - Looking For The Clues
2008, Leigh Sloggett

Australian fans of roots music already know Leigh Sloggett; now it's time for the rest of you to become acquainted. Sloggett is a highly accomplished and personal songwriter, weaving intricate stories around finger picked guitar compositions. His sophomore album, Looking For The Clues was released in November, 2008, with a concert/launch party at The Guild Theatre in Melbourne. Featuring double bass and vocal support from Liz Frencham (Jigzag, Frencham and Smith), Sloggett has created a wonderful textured and subtle collection of thirteen story songs. Readers of Wildy's World may not know Sloggett by name, but if you took our recommendation and checked out Tom Bolton's wonderful When I Cross The River you've heard Sloggett's lap steel work.

Looking For The Clues opens with the title track, a plaintive folk number with a quiet energy that will catch the listener by surprise. Blues elements give this tale of unrequited love and unknown destination a noir flavor that's very intriguing. The narrator here is looking for direction in a new place and has as much of an idea as the listener where he's going. Blue Jewel is a great down-tempo blues piece. Sloggett has the perfect voice for this material, and the harmony vocal blends with his voice perfectly. Stone is a somewhat circumspect look at unintended consequences of decisions make and actions we undertake. It's very intelligently written and quite abstract, and the music is wonderful. The song is full of wonderful acoustic guitar work with a lot of blues woven into the musical tapestry.

Money Can't Buy Happiness is a bit of a tongue-in-cheek look at the blessing and curse that is money. The blues arrangement is ideal for the song, and Sloggett has just enough of the smarmy showman in him to pull this one off. Sloggett gets instrumental on Thornbill, a pretty and quietly energetic guitar piece with one of those melody lines that you'll be humming for days. This song underscores the ultimate strength of Sloggett as a performer. He's extremely adept with the guitar in his hands, and a strong singer, but the man's sense of melody is uncanny. Every melody here is the sort you could easily hum or sing along to. Crayfish Col is wonderfully dark and textured in the guitar work. If you close your eyes you can picture this song being song in a dark pub where they still throw the peanut shells on the floor; there's a vaguely Celtic flavor here that pushes at the bounds of the arrangement to be set free.

Am I Going Insane is another of those songs that may or may not be tongue-in-cheek, but the delicious blues guitar work will turn your head irrespective of any possible sense of whimsy. The narrator is definitely having a bad day, and it's a great listen. Switchback is a vibrant yet reserved instrumental with all of the characteristics of the trail type from which it takes its name. Sloggett closes out with Sweet Water Rag and some delicious slide-guitar work that you won't want to miss.

Looking For The Clues is an understated effort that gets in under your defenses and mesmerizes you with great storytelling and amazing guitar work. Leigh Sloggett is quiet but the weight of his words is impressive, and the arrangements presented here will keep listeners busy listening for some time to come. Looking For The Clues is one fine Americana collection that deserves wide recognition.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Leigh Sloggett at http://www.luckyleigh.com/ or www.myspace.com/leighsloggett. You can purchase a copy of Looking For The Clues at www.cdbaby.com/cd/sloggett2.

Review: Bryan Clark - Gossip, Inspiration & Slander

Bryan Clark - Gossip, Inspiration & Slander
2008, Rainfeather Records

Bryan Clark is a true Renaissance man; a self-motivated, self-governed life-long learner and lover of music. With a Masters and Ph.D. in music, the singer/songwriter/arranger/session player and college professor seeks to understand himself and then the world through his music. Three highly successful bluegrass tribute albums with his band Honeywagon helped him learn the Bluegrass form (Sympathy for Bluegrass - A Tribute To The Rolling Stones; Grass Stains and Green Day, Bluegrass). Tiring of L.A., Clark relocated to Nashville, where he has released five successful and groundbreaking solo albums. Not one for the politics of Nashville or the traditional bent of Bluegrass, Clark works to bend genres and create new sounds from old. His latest album, the double-disc set Gossip, Inspiration & Slander, features an acoustic disc and an electric disc. With three songs shared between the two discs, listeners get a chance to hear the musical development of the creative process, but also get to hear the breadth and depth of Clark's stylistic range and talent. Clark's music has been featured on shows such as America's Next Top Model and Project Runway, as well as on networks such as VH1, FOX, ESPN and Oxygen.

The acoustic disc opens with Angelyne and a gorgeous, old-time country/bluegrass sound. Clark has a heart throb voice and the harmonies that surround him here just build an amazing aural canvas. The second track, Midnight Kisses is pure gold. The song has a great country sound with distinct pop sensibilities and a killer acoustic arrangement. The musicianship here is amazing. It’s one of those songs that stick in your head from the first time you hear it; you won’t be able to help yourself from singing/tapping along. Nights Like These is great pop country, but would benefit from an electric arrangement. Kiss The Bride is a bit of classic songwriting; a song about addiction and the choices people make. There is an implied inevitability to the song that is artfully told. For Predictions Of You, Clark explores a long distance relationship posthumously from the perspective of a man who can’t let go. The song walks the line between sweet and vaguely disturbing as the protagonist’s devotion becomes clear. The acoustic disc also features some fine instrumental work on Blackberry Blossom, Dom On The Saddlehorn, Midnight And The Harvest Moon and Bill Cheatum.

The electric disc gives a picture of the more commercial side of Clark, as well as an interesting stylistic tendency toward Texas Red Dirt Country. Two songs reminded me distinctly of Lyle Lovett in writing style. Bumper To Bumper sounds like it could be a Lovett outtake, mixing in the same wry wit Lovett is known for. Don’t Blame Me gets into some Texas-style acoustic blues, with song craft reminiscent of Lovett. This is the best song on both discs overall. That aside, I didn’t enjoy the electric disc quite as much as the acoustic. The sound here is solid and has strong commercial legs, but the musicianship on the acoustic disc is difficult to equal, much less top. The electric Angelyne just doesn’t live up to the acoustic version, and Midnight Kisses has a slick sound that will play well to Country radio, but loses a bit in the translation to electric instruments. Be sure also to check out The Way It Is, Nights Like These and All That Really Matters.

Bryan Clark is the real deal, a hard core country singer/songwriter with deep Texas roots who can play the commercial game but rights significant songs. Gossip, Inspiration & Slander is a classic, although I would recommend the acoustic disc first and foremost. Clark is an inestimable talent and this album could make him a superstar with the right breaks. Here’s hoping it happens. We need more Bryan Clark.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Bryan Clark at http://www.bryanclarkmusic.com/. You can purchase a copy of Gossip, Inspiration and Slander at CDBaby.

Review: Dom Deluca - Birds Of Worry

Dom Deluca – Birds Of Worry
2008, Dom Deluca

Dom Deluca is a self-taught guitar player and songwriter from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who was inspired by folks like Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt and Ron Sexsmith. In classic singer/songwriter style, Deluca writes about life, love disappointment and disdain of both self and others. Deluca shows a talent for imaginative and memorable lyrics and melodies that stick around after his songs have ended. Deluca’s debut album, Birds Of Worry, is a dazzling display of song craft and charisma that will keep you glued to your seat.

Deluca opens with It’s A Sad, Sad Day, a wry yet gloomy song featuring subtle pedal steel guitar work and a pleasant melody. Deluca’s voice has an easy feel that makes his songs go down like Jell-O. My Defenses Up is a fun and lively song that will make you want to get up and dance. I’ve Been Fine is a catchy lead in to the introspective trepidation of Birds Of Worry. Deluca slips in Toronto, a love song to his home town; it’s perhaps just south of hokey but charming in its own right. Deluca follows this with I Pray And I Hope, a song that focuses on not losing what’s good. But Deluca saves the best for last. Song To My City is incredibly personal and honest; powerful in its simplicity. This is one of those great story songs that you’ll find yourself pondering from time to time long after the CD has stopped spinning.

Dom Deluca has a penchant for raw and honest story songs that make you think and feel. Birds Of Worry is a great introduction to Deluca. There’s no fireworks here, just good steady entertainment that asks you to actively listen. Deluca follows in the path of Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Ron Sexsmith as thinking man’s songwriters. Birds Of Worry is definitely worth making some time for.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Dom Deluca at www.myspace.com/domdelucasongs. You can purchase a copy of Birds Of Worry at www.cdbaby.com/cd/domdeluca.