Cree Rider
Family Band – One Night Stand (Independent)
I’ve always wondered why so much alt. country sounds
like, well, proper country music. Surely artists like Robbie Fulks and
Patterson Hood are the natural successors to Hank, Johnny, Willie, Merle, Waylon,
etc., rather that the airbrushed pap that Nashville chucks up and out. The Cree
Rider Family Band describe themselves as alt. country, and they are insofar
that they’re alternative to the stuff that sells millions, but a quick spin or
six of “One Night Stand” reveals a band with more heart, soul and honky tonk
chops than all those guys with big hats put together.
Based in St. Louis, Missouri, and led by Mr. Cree
Rider, himself, the band rattle through 13 tracks on their debut long-player,
touching on a number of classic country themes – loving, leaving, drinking,
etc. – with plenty of clever wordplay and tunes that stick around long after
the music’s faded. Though there’s nothing here that could be described as
over-produced, the full band recording (guitars, bass, drums plus pedal steel
and keys) lends the album a fulsomeness that’s incredibly appealing, and the
two vocalists, Rider and Cheryl Wilson add to the mix.
Standout songs come think and fast: “Conquer This Sweetheart” struts its stuff with Cash-esque
boom-chick-a rhythm and some country-fried lead guitar courtesy of Jordan
Heimberger. “Straight from the Bottle” is vibrant
country rock, with so many hooks I’m going to need surgery to have them
removed, and “Break Free of These Bars” is a tears-in-my-beer, honky tonk
weepie, best played behind chicken wire. Add to those three another half dozen new
instant classics, and absolutely nothing that you’d describe as filler, and
you’ve an album every fan of “real” country music needs in their lives.
Phil S.
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