Best Tracks And Side Tracks 1979-2007 - Jason Ringenberg Album Review

Photo: Dave Solomon

Album Review

Jason Ringenberg has been credited with influencing the roots-based surge in indie-country-rock fusion movement of the mid 80s which, in part, lead to the present genre, Americana. Building on his work, bands and solo artists have taken the style to a far greater level in terms of overall quality. Listening to some of this work, it sounds almost twee and amateurish by today's standards. His voice is also very weak for the rough 'n' ready stuff. This whopping back-catalogue spanning 28 years has some dreadfully dated material - Punk Rock Skunk for example, combined with some good up-to-date songs. Illinois Ringenberg's forte is at the softer end of countrified rootsy ballads like The Price Of Progress, and pedal steel driven ballad She Hung The Moon and divine Addie Rose.

Shuffling country rocker Shop It Around is decent enough a start, but bluesy The Life Of The Party is rather shambolic, and dated. Bible And A Gun (with Steve Earl) and A Pocketful Of Soul are the kind of songs Bruce Springsteen laid down on his tribute to Pete Seeger (We Shall Overcome : The Seeger Sessions), and it's noticeable that the quality of songwriting has vastly improved due to Earl's co-writing credit on Bible And A Gun. He also does a good job on the hoe-down romp of lightweight Rainbow Stew, which surely gives a nod to the wonderful Ozark Mountain Daredevils. Like the song of the same name by Bruce Springsteen, Born To Run, is a belting rocker complete with bottle neck slides, chomping piano and catchy chorus, while Prosperity Train owes much to Stevie Ray Vaughan's high-octane blues. Arguably, the album's finest moments are the country sways of Eddie Rode The Orphan Train and jaunty Half The Man. Moose On The Loose has a heavy 60s influence and is a real fun track with a punchy comedic hook.

Just when things were getting seriously classy on a duet with Kristi Rose, Ringenberg destroys the mellow Lovely Christmas with maddening rock blasts. When Ringenberg hits form, it's exceptional, but far too rare. Mom's 70th Birthday Song is a sweet dedication to his mother, and possibly his best vocal performance by a mile.

File under: Influential, yes. Great? No way.

Elly Roberts