| We sang Dallas Moore’s
praises a couple of years back when his debut disc, My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys,
washed onto our shores here at VJ HQ. Well, Moore’s second album is no sophomore
slump by any stretch of the imagination. Everything on here works and works like a charm.
The production – a joint effort by the band – is 100% improved over Moore’s
debut effort, giving a real depth to the sparse, bandstand instrumentation with every
player in much sharper focus. But the real surprise is how much Moore’s songwriting
talents – already a pretty well honed talent outta the box – has taken a big
ol’ jump forward with this new one. The obligatory highway song, "Tonight I Own
the Road," is loaded with melancholy galore, "Bad Checks" is funny without
being corny (which ain’t a bad thing, ya’ know, I approve of Speck Rhodes) while
"Every Sad Song On The Jukebox" is a future country cry-in-your-beer classic
lying in waiting. More care also went into the vocals this time around as Dallas’
honky tonk baritone is more in control and far more present in the mix. Other highlights
include "Just What I Need Tonight," the confessional, "Id Do It All Again
For You" and the title track, a tune straight from the ‘70s Southern Rock
songwriting handbook, right down to the righteous slide guitar licks. In a raft of
cookie-cutter country new faces, this is another great little album by a new artist
carving out a career that appears to have legs. (Chroma-Tone Records, 133 West Liberty,
Louisville, KY 40223) |
