Tracks: Start The Car, Slow Train Comin', 1000 Memories, Stop, It's Just My Heart, I Was Wrong, Maggie May, My In-Laws Are Outlaws, Just Another Night, Step Inside This House, A Fool Like Me, Barbed Wire And Rose, She Took The Ring, Give It Time.
© 2005

I was sent this cd by Frank Ifield, who recently awarded the dynamic, young, Australian singer,..... who first got started on his trail of success when he won the 2004 Toyota Star Maker Quest.......his annual "Golden Spur Award" in March of this year (2006).

'Start The Car' is a well balanced, modern, contemporary country album, with a slight bias towards upbeat songs, ......as would be expected from such a young artist (22yrs)....... which displays plenty of raw edginess and energy, from a young man who clearly aims to show that he has the talent to make it the very top. From the moment I put the CD in the player and listened to the title cut "Start The Car", I was immediately drawn to how much his voice, uncannily, reminded me of top US artist Collin Raye, and who knows, on this showing, Travis could emulate the superstars success, given two or 3 years time!

With a bumper 14 tracks on offer, there is a mix of material on here, written in part, by some of Nashville's top writers, with some from Australian writers, plus, 4 of his own songs. The only one that I can confess to not liking is his country reworking of Rod Stuart's pop hit of the 60s, 'Maggie May.' Not that I dislike the song, more that it just doesn't work, at least it doesn't for me anyway! That track apart, there isn't a bad track on here, and, as he is already on the major, 'ABC Australia' label, the big money is already on the side of this young artists emerging talent.

Travis recently returned from a three-week trip to the United States, where he successfully performed at three bluegrass festivals in Missouri, as well as at venues in Nashville and Austin. I am most pleased to report that, he’s currently planning a three-month tour of Europe and the United Kingdom in 2007. Just try and keep me away!!!

An excellent piece of work from an emerging, major player on the world-wide country music scene. Keith Urban did it, and I have no reason to doubt that Travis will be right there, vying to emulate his fellow countryman's success, in 2 or 3 years time!

Follow the website link below to find out how to get your hands on a copy of this excellent album!!

Metro Country Rating: 10/10

STEVE McCORMICK

Steve is a singer/songwriter from Carlisle, in England, with a wide ranging taste in music. Besides a strong leaning into traditional country music, he likes to incorporate ideas taken from listening to folk, blues, rock and pop music, describing his music as alternative country or 'alt.country', which I would say is a pretty fair description these days, at least with what is on offer here.

Getting down to the tracks on here, the opening 'Breaking Hearts' peaked at Number 2 on the Alternative Country charts (both songs hit the Top 20 on the Country charts that are compiled from over 20,000 songs) while my personal favourite, the very catchy and memorable 'I'm Alright, Jack', reached Number 1 on the Rockabilly charts on Soundclick.com. Some great blues licks on this one!

Another song on here, 'If I Could Tell You' has been covered by Chicago-based singer Tanya Witt, while the album's closer, the very bouncy, "Living In Loserville" leaves you wanting for more.

Currently unsigned, Steve has produced this 8 track album himself, and will soon have it for sale on his website and no doubt at gigs, where Steve appears either, with his band or solo.

My only jib is that there are only 8 tracks on here, but recording a CD doesn't come cheap....if you want a decent job doing. Hopefully, a record company may come along at some time and allow this talented singer/songwriter the finance to produce a full album. I believe he's good enough!!

Tracks: Mandy's On A Diet, Rockabilly Baby, Walking The Floor Over You, Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain, Cry, Cry, Cry, Greenback Dollar, Four In The Morning, There's A New Moon, Tom Dooley, Turn Around, Putting On The Style, Turn My Pictures Upside Down, Itchin' For My Baby, Candy Kisses, Little Red Wagon, She's My Baby (Mee).

Rootn' Tootn' are a trio consisting of Mandy Stroud, who plays Double Slap Bass, Johnny Vee, on Electric Lead Guitar and Colin Mee, on Acoustic Rhythm Guitar, Washboard and Banj Uke. They all contribute vocals, although, Colin takes Lead Vocals as they play a variety of traditional country & hillbilly songs, from artists such as, Hank Snow, Faron Young, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Ernest Tubb, Tex Ritter etc.

More and more these days, U.K. acts are taking more care about their recorded work and are giving DJ's a product that, can be considered good enough for airplay,....... besides being something they can personally, be proud of. This trio are certainly following that trend, with a very well produced CD.

The song selection includes many well known standard and traditional tunes apart from the albums closer, a great, fun song penned by vocalist Colin Mee. It's a shame there can't be more original songs on here, but as this is their first album, they very wisely, are playing safe and giving the listener what they know and can sing along to. Hopefully, Colin will put will put more of his own songs on the next one as, on this showing, he can certainly write a good tune.

'Raw And Uncut' is a very enjoyable album from 3 very talented musician's, and I look forward to catching this trio LIVE, somewhere in the near future!!