Corey

Sharek

 

“’57 Chevy, Half Of Gas" sounds like a great beginning to a country record titled Down The Road.  But that wasn’t my initial reaction.  My initial reaction was, “wow, this guy’s voice just ain’t it.”  This disc was a gift by a friend who plays bass with Casey Thompson.  The angle of the charity was that they wanted me to fill in some gigs playing drums.  At first listen, I called my friend and respectfully declined his offer.  I shelved the CD until I was at the Red Moon Café in Ennis, and watched this artist and his band completely knock them dead!  My initial reaction at that point was “Wow, this guys voice is much better now than that lousy disc.”  So I put the disc into the dashboard for another examination.

In revisiting the offer made by my friend, I needed to learn the material pressed on disc. Well, it was a bit difficult to engage myself into at first, but after you’ve grown accustomed to the inflections and modulations of Casey’s voice, you start recognizing that there is “songwriting gold in them thar hills.”  Like some other songsmiths in our genre, (Mark David Manders and Kevin Deal immediately spring to mind) the vocals aren’t what you are there for…it’s the writing.  And Casey’s got strength in that arena.  Besides, it stands to reason that there must be something worthwhile when a disc is recorded with such notable guests as Ray Benson, Lloyd Maines, Max Stalling, T-Roy Miller, Mary Cutrufello, John Inmon and other notable Texas players.

Not dissimilar to another CD I recently reviewed, the title track leaves much to be desired, but comes bearing desiderate gifts.  In this writer’s opinion, there can never be too many songs about open roads and getting the heck out of town.

The second track, “Rodeo”, is a gently rolling tune, again treading familiar thoroughfares of the cowboy’s life and dreams still unattained.  This is one of those songs that speaks to you only after the 5th or so listen.

Like the talkin’ tune?  Evidently, so does Casey Thompson.  Because he’s got not one, but two on this record.  The first is “The Hat”, a song about the central character’s granddad in a colorful homage to a man he truly admires.  There’s also a tribute to another obvious hero of Casey’s at the end of this tune…but you’ll need to find out what it is on your own.

The other talkin’ tune is “K.O.A. Cantina”. This is a great tune that involves a pious and righteous Aunt cussing out a New Mexico State Trooper, the spare tire storage come wet bar, traversing the countryside in a 1972 Olds Vista Cruiser with no A/C, tugging a pop-up trailer and a visit to the county jail prior to age 10.  Good times.

Casey makes good on the claim that someone long ago said, "Every great songwriter needs a train song tucked into their back pocket".  Well, “Punch My Ticket” is a keeper.  It starts with a great intro lead line and that takes a different turn on the well-worn theme.

One could say that “Tattoos” is angled at those who like funny, catchy songs with little substance.  But the irony that getting tattoos in OK is illegal is too cerebral for those listeners who would never catch the joke.  That alone makes this song passable.

Take the first sentence of the above statements and substitute “Honky Tonk Barfly” for “Tattoos” and leave out the mention of a saving grace and there you have it.  It’s not a bad song, just not one I favor.  Your mileage may vary.

Naturally, the best was saved for last.  “If I’m Lucky” is gorgeous song about a man who can’t manage to get the words dislodged from his windpipe.  It’s sweet in an almost self-depreciating way how Casey Thompson uses the object of the protagonist’s affection to express those words the protagonist was unable to say himself.

A Texas singer-songwriter once said about the perfect country & western song to be perfect, it must contain mention of Mama, trains, trucks, prison, and/or getting drunk. Well, lets count ‘em up:
√ Mama: Check, already mentioned by the second line of the first song, but dotted       throughout
√ Trains: Check.
√ Trucks: Check (well sorta - Does a truck stop and implied truckin’ count?  I say so.)
√ Prison: Close enough
√ Getting drunk: Several. …and a bonus for mentioning parents and family in the preamble.

So, by that definition, Casey Thompson may have written a great country & western song, had it not taken him twelve tracks to touch on all of it. But then again, if you know Casey, you’ll not find that a surprise.

Grade: B

Corey Sharek, June, 2005

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