| Track by Track Review
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Long Gone Daddy
Pure blues blends with jam band sounds on this smoking hot cut. I love the harmonica, but the vocal performance can’t be ignored. This is classy stuff. |
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Blindsided
This reminds me both of The Band and the Grateful Dead. It’s rather meaty, but very much a classic country inspired jam band rocker. |
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Straight from Your Lips
Although this still has some of the same reference points, it’s more of a modern alternative rocker in a lot of ways. |
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Skywriting
There are soaring elements dancing over the top of this number. It’s not a huge change, but the tone is definitely different. There are some bits of psychedelic and space music in the mix. |
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Contact
Country and cool rock music merge on this tasty number. |
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Riding for a Fall
I’m definitely reminded of the Grateful Dead here. The harmonica is a nice touch. |
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Vestiges of You
More of a slow country song at first, this is another solid piece. As it grows, it’s more of a straight rock song. |
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Down the Drain
There’s an old time jazz vibe here. This is fun. |
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Reach Forward
A roots rock styled tune, this is very classic in so many ways. |
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Good Lord Willing & the Creek Don't Rise
Down home rockabilly styled music is the concept here. There is harmonica and the piece has a lot of energy and cool. There is definitely a bit of a Grateful Dead thing here. |
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The Way It Goes
Jazz and jam band elements seem to merge on this classy track. It is rather a dreamy piece, really. |
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Trial by Fire
Harder rocking, this is a classy tune that has a lot of country built into it. It does earn a parental advisory. |
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Little Bird
Old school country music and rock combine here. This is a fun piece. It’s also got a lot of energy and some jazz. |
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Falling from Grace
With a lot of country and folk in the mix, this is a slower cut. The lyrics and the whole mood of this song works really well. I think it might be the best number here. |
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Hitting Ditches
Here’s another alternative rocker with some jam band and other sounds in the mix. This is solid, but not really a standout. |
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Conversation in a Bar
This is a strong piece, but the formula is starting to wear a little thin. It’s pretty standard fare for this album, alternative rock with a roots base. |
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Little Miss 1565
A slower song, this is again a bit too much like the bulk of the stuff on this disc. That’s a shame because this is good enough to deserve to stand tall. |
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A Wave
More of the same, there is a bit of a shoegaze element to this piece. |
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Hard Feelings
A bit detuned and odd, this is a slow number with a lot of old time sound in it. It’s a change, but not necessarily a good one. It does get into more standard rock sounds as it continues. That unites it with the sea of sameness that pervades here. |
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All’s Fair in Love & War
The title track closes the disc after a long pause. It’s another roots rock number with some psychedelia in the mix. It’s enough of a change, and a strong enough tune that it really does manage to stand tall. |
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