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- Released: Out now
- Rating: 6/10
- Format: 2-CD set
- Vote and comment on this album:
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 fargreater level in terms of overall quality. Listening to some of this work, itsounds almost twee and amateurish by todays standards. His voice is also veryweak for the rough n ready stuff. This whopping back-catalogue spanning 28years has some dreadfully dated material Punk Rock Skunk for example,combined with some good up-to-date songs.
Illinois Ringenbergs forte is at the softer end of countrified rootsy balladslike The Price Of Progress, and pedal steel driven ballad She Hung The Moonand divine Addie Rose.Shuffling country rocker Shop It Around is decent enough a start, butbluesy 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 BruceSpringsteen laid down on his tribute to Pete Seeger (We Shall Overcome:The Seeger Sessions), and its noticeable that the quality of songwritinghas vastly improved due to Earls 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 thesong of the same name by Bruce Springsteen, Born To Run, is a beltingrocker complete with bottle neck slides, chomping piano and catchy chorus, whileProsperity Train owes much to Stevie Ray Vaughans high-octane blues.
Arguably, the albums finest moments are the country sways of Eddie Rode The Orphan Trainand jaunty Half The Man. Moose On The Loose has a heavy ’60s influence andis 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, its exceptional, but far too rare. Moms 70th Birthday Songis a sweet dedication to his mother, and possibly his best vocal performance bya mile.
There are 30 tracks, all of which can be seen via the Amazon link above,and these include Shop It Around, Camille With Swan Drive, She Hung TheMoon, Rainbow, Born To Run, A Pocketful Of Soul, Half The Man, The SailorsEyes, Whos Gonna Feed Them Hogs?
File under: Influential, yes. Great? No way.
Weblink:jasonringenberg.com
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.