Reviews by Stephen Rapid

Jason Arnold and The Stepsiders 'Crazy Things' Self-Release

If you didn't know from the cover the first notes of this album leaves you in no doubt where Jason Arnold's heart lies. It's in the dance hall's and honky-tonks of Texas, in the music that emanated from those venues in the 50s and 60s, music playing to working men and women looking for a good time. Times change, country music has changed beyond recognition in a lot of cases but it's roots are kept alive by a select few who love and live a lifestyle that not only looks back but also has a future. That future is in writing new songs, playing live and putting out fine CDs. All of which Arnold does. His songs deal with cheating (Just One More Time and the title track), break-up (Cold Neon Stare) and life vicissitudes (Down To My Last Dollar and Hello, Whiskey!) while the covers are from the pens of Willie Nelson (Half A Man), Charlie Daniels (Texas) or Bob Wills (Maiden's Prayer). Arnold has a voice that has the right amount of nasal twang to suggest that he could only be a country singer and his tight band The Stepsiders, with whom he also plays bass are well up to the task and understanding of these enjoyable songs. With fiddle, steel and piano to the fore the ingredients are perfect for that stone country sound. Chances are that, outside of a visit to Texas or the occasional festival gig in Europe, you won't get a chance to appreciate Arnold live. If that's the case then Crazy Things constitutes a necessary substitute, a quick shot of honky-tonk that, while it's not going to change anyone's opinion of hardcore country, reaffirms that for the many who love this music and the era from which it emerged this is a living breathing form that still can be potent.

Dierks Bentley 'Home' Capitol/Humphead

After the bluegrass base of Bentley's last album Up On The Ridge he has returned to more familiar territory here. Produced by Brett Bevers and Luke Wooten the sound kicks it up a notch or do with Bentley's high-energy take on his brand of contemporary country that while it has it's roots in traditionalism will never be mistaken for a album recorded in the 50s. Which is something that mainstream radio will applaud. As will his many fans. The themes are about having a good time, about relationships and what it means to be at home. As Dierks notes in the booklet home, for him, is many things - his family, his friends, his country or his old D-28. A mix of things that make you feel safe and give you pleasure. The title track itself has been the subject of some controversy but aside from that is song fused with those sentiments on a song that is more reflective that the more good-time songs like Am I The Only One or Tip It On Back. The song selection finds Bentley as co-writer on half the songs, the others are new songs from outside sources picked to fit an overall mood. Most of the songs are about lost or found love and desire. These are themes that relate to Bentley's audience if not to Bentley himself. Home will be a success, it represents the more acceptable sound of major label country-based music. It fuses elements of the music that Dierks Bentley loves which includes country, bluegrass, roots and stadium rock. It suits the place he is right now. The a-team players do exactly what they are supposed to do and many of these songs will become staples in his live set. Home is where the heart is they say and Dierks Bentley is following his heart. You can decide if you also want to follow or not.

Jeremy Steding 'I Keep On Livin', But I Don't Learn' Self-Release

Another Austin, Texas based writer who is playing roots/country. There are some players involved here whose names may be know to those who check on such things. pedal steel and dobro player Kim Deschamps has previously played with Blue Rodeo while producer and guitarist Walt Wilkins is know as an artist in his own right. There are a bunch of other fine players involved to deliver these songs. from the ballad Arkansas Rain to the twangy title track. Like a lot of artists Steding has had the album funded by a number of patrons who contributed at different levels to the making of the album. Steding has a strong, if not totally unique, voice but one that suits his songs well. He is a solid working musician having played many venues throughout the U.S. This is how he gets his music out there, backed up with CD sales. Of the eleven songs here two are Steding co-writes and one is a cover of Don't Take Your Guns To Town, a Cash classic. He delivers this in tribute mode in the stripped-down style of later Cash recordings, just guitar, simple steel and the backing vocal of Sharon Lee Nelson. Five Apples is a song that takes a historical aspect with its civil war theme. Elsewhere the songs deal with familiar themes of life lived under hardship and hope. Many of the songs hit home and are a combination of the convincing playing, voice and songs. Those that immediately stood out included The Old Man On The Bridge, the solace of Paint The Town Red, When They're Blue. Steding plays country roots music that should find favour with many and he fits well into the varied and vibrant Austin scene and those who seek out music made in that music city.

Dave McGraw & Mandy Fer 'Seed Of A Pine' Self-Release

Two singers and songwriters who have joined forces for the first time on this folk-infused set. Each takes the lead vocal on their own songs with Fer delivering a sultry voice and the lead electric and acoustic guitar lead work in a subtle and impressive style. McGraw, by way of contrast, has a deeper baritone voice that provides effective harmony when the two voices blend together.  McGraw has written six songs and Fer five. The songs are interesting in that the two writers both have slightly opaque, poetic styles that are given depth by the arrangements that use the additional textures of bass, drums, cello, violin, keyboards and dobro to enhance the quiet melodies of these tales, given a light touch production by Zach Goheen. The wistfulness of the title song that tells of an older person who "needs to ride to Portland but she dreams of Rome". The lyric booklet allows you to read the lyrics but this is an album that connects on an overall level of voice, music and lyric. It is an album rather than just a collection of songs and the collective experience will draw you in if you are prepared to give these two partners the time and space to allow their collective efforts to settle in. These are not instant pop songs or hard-bitten country tales, rather they are impressions of of someone's life and hopes "you glance over your sore shoulder, it's too dark to turn back but the fire by your campsite keeps you warm enough to dream" (Comin' Down) or "Like a distant violin playing, "Wash away my sins" he searches the sky for something, for someone... (Grow). This is music that is washed with the watercolour tones of the cover artwork - soft brushes strokes that bleed their colours together into a pleasing whole.