Dave Alvin? Wasn't he a Blaster? Guilty! And so's the rest of his band...the Guilty Men! This new CD is a barn burner! Recorded live out in California by Mark Linett, the disc finds the band playing songs from Alvin's past, from the long past, and new songs for tomorrow, with verve and vitality.
It starts off like a science fiction movie with a wandering pedal steel sound effects, then a rockin' beat rolls in and Dave's laconic vocals over top...the pedal steel focuses...the drums steady and strong...some fiddle...it's a great introduction to what is yet to come. Roots music? Alternative country? Hey man...IT'S ROCK 'N' ROLL!!! Let's dance!
Alvin is a likeable, if not particularly tuneful, singer, but his guitar playing is melodic and finely wrought. Bobby Lloyd Hicks provides a solid backbeat, and combined with Gregory Boaz's bass provides a firm foundation over which Rick Shea (pedal & lap steel, mandolin and electric guitar), Brantley Kearns (fiddle), Joe Terry (keyboards) and Chris Gaffney (accordion) flesh out the big sound. "Juke" Logan joins in on harmonica, and Greg Leisz makes a couple of appearances on dobro and guitar for an even bigger sound. This is like the Duke Ellington Rock Band. All these instruments, and still lots of room to breathe!
Dave Alvin's vocals are an acquired taste, deep and lazy, a touch mumbly, but perfectly suited to the kind of bluesy, countryish, rock music they play. The medley of "Little Honey/Who Do You Love" reminds this listener of Ronnie Hawkins. He echoes the Hawk's rendition even down to Alvin's asides..."who DO you love, little honey?" which also serves to tie the old song to Alvin's original.
"Abilene" is helped by some harmonies on the chorus, by most of the musicians. Then a well considered guitar solo, and a melodic fiddle solo round the tune out. "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down" is a blues where the band stretches out. "Andersonville" is a song about Alvin's "great-great-uncle" who was sent to the horror of the Confederacy, Andersonville Prison. It is a haunting and moving tribute.
More blues, more rock'n'roll, more good music, all played superbly by a hot band, fill out a sterling album. Nice pickin' all 'round and a good recorded sound achieved by Mark Linett and co-producer Dave Alvin. They aren't the Blasters...but these Guilty Men are a band to watch.
High Tone is here.
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