instrumental. They get bluesy on "SootheMe," with a bit of slide guitar, withoutlosing the Funk feel. "Things (in yourmind)" has a honky tonk piano plink, butstill funky! "Hoodoos And Cunyans" openswith Louisiana jungle noises and acousticslide guitar, and is an atomspheric piecethat could have been done by the FiresignTheater if they were based in New Orleansinstead. It finally evolves into a funeralmarch after a couple of minutes. Thenit's back to "Carnivale," and more NOLAFunk. "Walk Of Shame" has a little LeeDorsey Or Ernie K. Doe kinda feel. Thoseof us wild about New Orleans grooves willALL enjoy it! Neworelanssuspects.com -MB

Dex Romweber Duo / Images 13Bloodshot BS 210

Dex opens his new CD on guitar stuffthat sounds a bit Heavy Metal to me,though the song "Roll On" also remindsme of the Alabama song with that line.Since Dex's drummer is his wife, theseHeavy licks aren't pushed as hard, andit's more the style of guitar than the totalstyle. This is still Roots Rock, as we findat track 2 "Long Battle Coming." Not thatSara lacks anything as a drummer, shesounds good, and this was produced byRick Miller of Southern Culture On TheSkids. "Baby I Know What It's Like ToBe Alone" is a moody light Rock piece."So Sad About Us" (by Pete Townshend)opens with a lick from the Byrds "FeelA Whole Lot Better," "Prelude In GMinor" is an instrumental piece with aslower pace. "Blackout" has plenty ofSurf guitar reverb, and is another instro."I Don't Want To Listen" is a really niceslow dance groove, with more reverb!"Beyond The Moonlight" has acousticguitar strummed with handclaps, andof course a '50s feel with that sparearrangement. More atmosphere andreverb on Jackie deShannon and SharonSheeley's "We'll Be Together Again."Sara kicks off "Blue Surf" with wild Surfdrumming, another cool tune! "OneSided Love Affair" by Johnny Burnette isanother acoustic guitar piece, this timesolo. The excellent program ends on"Weird (Aurora Borealis)," another instro,this time with what sounds like theremin,but apparently is Dex on organ. Might wellbe my favorite Dex Romweber CD so far!Bloodshotrecords.com -MB

Steven Carper & Cowboy AngstEndless Sky

I'm not wild about that nameCowboy Angst, but I do like the way thisEP sounds! It's Country music, a little

distortion in some of the steel playing,but just a light edge. I'm tempted to callit Country Rock, because I suspect that'sthe primary influence, but there are earlyRock'n'Roll and Blues influences on thesecond song "Rattlesnake Road," andthe singer reminds me of John Stewart,who first surfaced with the CumberlandThree and the Kingston Trio, but had hisown hit with "Gold" in '79. "In The QuietHours" is even more Rock, so my guessis correct I think. The ethereal beginningof "River" reminds me of the Nitty GrittyDirt Band's opening to the title song onSymphonion Dream. A bit of accordion onthe final track of 5 "The Last Dance Of TheYear" and dobro gives this instrumentalwaltz a very pleasant old timey feel.Swcarper1212@yahoo.com -MB

The Silvertones / Silvertone Avenue

There've been a few bands calledthe Silvertones, and I know of at leastone other current band using the name,because it's a good name. My firstdecent guitar was a Silvertone (madeby Danelectro), and one of my currentfavorites also said Silvertone on it beforesomebody sand all the finish off. I'mnot sure if this Texas Blues band whichstarted 20 years ago played Silvertonesin the beginning, but they wrote all 13of the songs, most of them individuallyby all four members. The second song"Sancho" (by guitarist and singer Leo dela Vega) is pretty Rock'n'Roll. "All NightCorner" is a fine slow Blues written by thedrummer (who also plays washboard andsings) Randy Ball. The other guitarist andsinger Rob Donovan Lowe wrote "Dallas,Austin And Back Again," which has kindof an Allman Brothers "Pony Boy" sort ofgroove. The cover, with its street cornersign at Silvertone Trail and SilvertoneAvenue is what attracted me - both aretitles of songs on this CD. The title oneis a nice shuffle instrumental with slideguitar. Ball's "Cajun Love" is one of myfavorites, not really Cajun in style, but itdoes have accordion by Ponty Bone, whois one of several guest players. ChuckWard plays piano on 3 tracks and horns ontwo. They swing on "Out On The Town,"and "I Have Dreams Of You" is a niceslow dance tune. "Hoedown Jones" isan acoustic tune, and that feel continuesinto "Whiskyhead," but with drums anddobro. Bassist Brian Wicker wrote thelast song, which also tells the story ofthe band. They may not be world beaters,but this is the sort of band you're luckyto come across in a roadhouse any givennight looking for a good time - I like theCD! Deepsouthaustin.com -MB

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Laura Benitez & The HeartacheHeartless Woman / Copperhead Records

CR-2203

Brand new album by Bay areaCountry artist Laura Benitez delivershome run after home run! With a voicefilled with sunshine she takes a bad breakup and molds it into 10 new Countryclassics dripping with heartache. Likemany of the Bakersfield sound classics ofthe early '60s by the likes of Buck Owens,that heartache often gets delivered inan uptempo, almost joyous way. The 11song album starts off with the rocking'"Good Lovin"', toe-tapping HonkyTonk fun. The slower "Worst Vacation"is another of my favorites - there's somuch truth to her song writing. I love thecatchy, bouncy "Take Me Off The Shelf"with great steel guitar licks - she finallygot over the break up and is ready foradventures! "I Know You're Bad" has ahaunting vibe, again the expertly playedpedal steel guitar by Ian Taylor Suttonfeatures prominently. "Imitation Of You"is another song that should become aclassic in the female Country field, thinkLoretta Lynn and Patsy Cline.' While Lauraclearly takes inspiration from artists of the'50s onwards, her style is as classic asit is contemporary and never once doesit feel like she is recreating something.Her 4 piece band the Heartache is alwaysright on the money with warm, twangyguitar and steel guitar sound, scaled backdrums, bass and never gets in the way ofher wonderful voice that fills and brightensevery room. "Sweet Green Eyes" is areverb laden waltz, followed by the onlydrinkin' break up song, the sad "ThisEmpty Bottle". By "Taking What's Mine"she's back rockin' in a Honky Tonk way.The only cover ends this fine album, GillianWelch's "Tear My Stillhouse Down" witha defiant vibe and scorching guitar licksby Bob Spector. Highly recommended forfans of traditional, real Country & HonkyTonk. Laurabenitezandtheheartache.com- Gaby Maag-Bristol

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