September 2007
Sugar Hills most recent Reckless Kelly release is a compilation of songs from the bands three discs for the label and is part of its Americana Master Series, which includes collections by Guy Clark, James McMurtry, and Jerry Douglas. On first listen, Reckless Kelly can sound like any number of current young country bands, but their rocknroll is tougher ("Nobodys Girl," "You Dont Want Me Around") and their country roots go deeper ("Wicked Twisted Road," "Snowfall"). Both the Brauns are wickedly talented multi-instrumentalists, and Abeyta is a bona fide guitar hero. The recordings on this set are up to Sugar Hills usual standards, which means they are clear and perfectly balanced, and they have sequenced the selections well. I wish Willy Brauns lyrics were always as fresh as his melodies, but he has more right to sing lines like "My first love is a wicked twisted road" than most. This is a band whose best is probably yet to come. GO BACK TO: |