Redneck country-bluesgood too. When you get a line like Im the redneck son of a gun on the opening song, you know exactly watcha gonna git. Well, actually, its not all bravado, because this album contains songs of loneliness, repentance, regret and love, so its not all-macho stuff.
Outside Of Tupelo isnt one of those albums that get awards for crossing that commercial line that gets gongs at Country Music awards, which make this reviewer cringe. Stephen L. Smith keeps his eye well and truly on the rootsier end of the scale, which must be quite tough in terms of making the album appealing, but hes pulled it off brilliantly.
Whether youre a country music fan or not, you cant help enjoying this CD. Basically this album works because the songs are top-notch (Smith is a rare craftsman) whether theyre the ballads like Firm Believer or Molly, both fit for radio play. As a teenager he listened to the best: The Band, Merle Haggard, The Allman Brothers and Kris Kristofferson. Theyre all rolled into Outside Of Tupelo
Smith can swing with the best of them, and he does from the get-go, with gushing enthusiasm on blazing Woman On A Pole dressed with blues-tinged guitar licks and honky-tonkish piano. The use of steel and slide guitars on Big Sky give it a warm and authentic country feel as the band shuffle nicely to the gentle beat. A bluesy opening guitar solo prefixes the love song that is Ive Got You, paying tribute to his lover during tough times. The title track chugs along to fiddle and mandolin dressings giving it an Irish mood with a modern country twist. The prominence of back-up singer Marcia Remirez on Cowboy Song turns the mid-tempo ballad into a modern classic.
The verdict A great listen.
RADIO Hear a track on THE PLUG at www.calonfm.com on Monday 11th October between 2-4pm (UK time)