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CD review: “As He Wanders…” by Texas Sapphires
Texas Sapphires
“As He Wanders…” (Ike Records)
Grade: B+
I hate it when younger artists sing songs about the sad current state of country music. Shurman almost ruined a good album by including the whiney, hokey “Country Ain’t Country Anymore.”
The best commentary is to make a pure country album like this sophomore release from Billy Brent Malkus and Rebecca Cannon, known together as the Texas Sapphires. With fiddle, banjo, pedal steel guitar and mandolin on just about every track, this record imagines a time when the most famous Garth is the sidekick on “Wayne’s World.” Even when they rock, as on “Farmer’s Tan,” they can’t shake the hillbilly shawl.
Opening with Arty Hill’s “Nashville Moon,” the Sapphires establish the honky tonk feel right out of the chute. The rest of the tunes are written by Malkus (who shows a great sense of humor on “How Did I Get So Sloppy Drunk When I Was Drinkin’ Neat?”), with the exception of Cannon’s stirring “Teardrops or Rain.” As a balladeer, Cannon (a former punk rocker in Sincola) is not a belter, but has a quality in her voice that makes it seem as if she’s feeling the words. Overdubbing her vocals on “Make Him Make Me,” one of Malkus’ best songs, is a nice touch.
Malkus is more limited vocally, but he can drive a guitar all around. And Cannon’s soft harmonies are always there when needed.
There’s no threat of the Texas Sapphires breaking out on country radio. There’s just a hint of a bar band scent to this record that terrifies programmers. But no one can say- or write a song- about this band being not country.
The Texas Sapphires play a Waterloo instore tomorrow and headline the Continental Club Thursday.
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By Griffin
February 8, 2010 3:46 PM | Link to this
Minor correction - Billy’s last name is Malkus, not Malkmus (as in that Pavement guy). Peace.