This Town, a
self-produced CD released on the Gen*u*ine Recordings label
by Texan J.D. Faron finds 12 tracks in all, 9 written solely
by Faron with the driving "Tennessee
Train" co-written with Tyler John. Rich Young
lends "Lucky Me" and
Flatt/Scruggs' "A Hundred Years
From Now" is given an up-tempo country edge with
the inclusion of some superb dobro playing from The East
Side Flash who also co-produced the album. It isn't often
that we hear the use of the dobro on country recordings
today which is more usually reserved for bluegrass. It
really is cheering to see the dobro used to perfection on This
Town.
Some fine authentic country music sets the mark with
"It's Here", followed
by the pain and misery of "This
Town"…the album's title cut. "Hey
Baby, Sweet Baby" and "Yesterday"
are not for me which I see as a couple of throwaway tracks
often found with many albums. The album on the whole is top
class with "Stolen Love"
slowing the mood down for a weepy, while "Somewhere
Out Of Albuquerque" picks up the pace and sets
us back on path of true love with the longing strains of
Herb Steiner's steel guitar.
Starting out with a bluegrassy style "Tennessee
Train" soon changes tempo to a slow rocker with
teasing glimpses of dazzling lead guitar work. A wonderful
close to this album comes with "Going
Home". Top-flight musicians and plenty of good
old snivelling country music can be found here. This is
country music as we know it and love it with that heady mix
of honky tonk - West Coast pattern that drifts back to a
time when country music was full of sentiment, meaning and
had big strong boys crying into their beer!!!
check out Faron's website http://www.jdfaron.com.
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