Things I Can’t Control features the same rock and roll that made Endless Oklahoma Sky an unheralded masterpiece two years ago. It is, unfortunately, the swan song for the rollicking Black Gold Band. Though all signs point to Moreland having just as much rock in his solo work, it’s sad that this band never got the recognition they deserved.
If anything, TICC rocks a little more uncompromisingly than its predecessor. The guitars are more menacing, the drumming faster, and Moreland’s howl a little more wounded. The themes remain the same: escaping to the road, love gone bad, etc. While the individual songs aren’t quite as distinctive as those on Endless Oklahoma Sky, TTIC has its moments of glory. Take “Bastards of the Highwayâ€, the song could be vintage Springsteen if it weren’t for Moreland’s vocal talents being closer to Jay Farrar’s mid-western melancholy than Springsteen’s New Jersey growl. The chorus repeats “we are the bastards of the highway/ we got everything to lose/ we were born to sing the blues/ we’re the bastards of the highway/ we get carried in the wind/ so we’re leaving town againâ€. Other highlights for me include “Small Town Boyâ€, “Ruin My Night”, “Brothers and Sistersâ€, and the closing “Alright, Let’s Goâ€. The album is very cohesive and never lets up from its onslaught of rockers.
It’s unclear what’s next for Moreland, he released the excellent solo EP Hope Springs Ephemeral in 2010 as well. Let’s hope he keeps rocking into 2011 and beyond. He’s got the songs and the conviction to be great. Fans of Lucero, Drag the River, Two Cow Garage, Jay Farrar would do well to check out Moreland’s stuff, both with the Black Gold Band and his solo work.
You can purchase Things I Can’t Control here on a name-your-price basis.
About the author: Specializes in Dead, Drunk, and Nakedness..... Former College Radio DJ and Current Craft Beer Nerd