Andy Gorwell, Uprooted (Cavalier music 2001)
After the first 2 tracks of this album, my first thought was 'this guy sounds like Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones'. I don't know if it was his intention to sound like the Stones, but I thought it was a pity, as his song writing may not be taken seriously. This is because his songs sound like something you might have found on the Stones middle years albums. Imagine if you can, Mick Jagger singing Alt Country, and you get the picture of how the album sounds.
The album notes are a bit sparse to say the least, but this shy Australian was recorded by Adrian Akerman at Incubator Studio and Justin Skim at Cavalier music, somewhere in the bush of Australia. Andy is helped out by Ed Yates on pedal steel guitar, Neon Leon on guitar, David Isaacs and Rod Jennings on drums, Jonathon Lickliter on bass, Jeremy Fogarty on harp, and Jeff Samlin on bass and backing vocals. Andy Gowell, apart from playing the harp and piano, also plays the dobro, so the dobro or pedal guitar is very strong on most tracks. Andy lays claim to writing all the tracks except 'No Exceptions' (Jagger, Richards). This leaves nine songs on the album, which are quite nice, but very predictable.
Andy arrives on his grand daddy's 'Diesel' truck at track 1. In a bar he meets a girl who is only looking for his 'Diamonds' not true love. At track 3 he finds the proverbial 'Old Train' tracks in the guise of lost love. Next he is waiting and 'Anticipating' his love. As usual it does not come and so we find him with his 'Old Friend the Blues' halfway through the album. But this honky-tonk man is not down-hearted! He demands you to 'Send Me in a Woman' he can treat like trash! If you don't, he wants to 'Take You Home Tonight' -- the nerve of the man! But that's what you get hanging around in 'Low Down Stinking Bars' so he is off. He has 'No Expectations' of ever coming back, so he decides to 'Hit The Road', as he is fed up waiting. A theme album if ever there was one.
Seriously, the songs are good and the album is well recorded and Andy does a fine job on the vocals. It is just a tiny pity he sounds like Mick Jagger, and because of this he cannot stamp his own unique identity on these songs.
This type of music sits very much on the fringe of folk - country rock- pop and makes a pleasant change, if you are in the folk music rut.
There is a website for Andy here: you can buy the album on line and listen to some sample tracks first if you wish.
