So, you’re looking for some California honky-tonk? Well, look no farther. Or is it further? Hell, I don’t know…but I’m leaning towards farther. Anyway, it’s here in the form of Dave Gleason’s Wasted Days. On their new album, Just Fall to Pieces, Gleason and Co. channel early Yoakam, Gram Parsons and the king of “Californicountry” himself, Buck Owens. The album is speckled with great instrumentation featuring pedal steel, harmonica, rusty acoustic guitars, fiddle, banjo and keyboards bouncing in and out of many of the tracks. Gleason’s lovesick vocals are a perfect fit with the music, bringing to mind Hank III (or the original Hank for that matter) and often Parsons from his days singing with the Byrds. The songwriting ain’t too shabby either with the country tinged title cut, “Rusty Ole Halo” and the Kinksy “Right Back to Her Heart,” (featuring a killer distorted guitar) being my personal favorites. Gleason’s surely had his share of heartaches and lost love but he should have a smile as wide as his hat when listening back to this album.
http://www.myspace.com/davegleason
http://www.dave-gleason.com/
www.wellwornrecords.com
August 7th, 2007 at 11:56 am
Hear, hear! I love that record (and his first two, as well)!