TOM WILK

Singer / Songwriter ★=SKIP IT; ★★=MEDIOCRE; ★★★=GOOD; ★★★★=EXCELLENT; ★★★★★=CLASSIC

Pete Townshend ★★★★ Sam Outlaw ★★★1/2 gles have informed her songs on Jonquil describes the joys and trials of surviving re- Truancy: The Very Best of Pete Townshend Angeleno Child, the Nashville-based artist’s second lationships with plenty of automotive UMe Six Shooter Records solo album and the first to receive nation- metaphors. “Our love is like a tractor tire While The Who celebrates its 50th an- With Angeleno, Sam Outlaw carries on al distribution. going round and round through the mud niversary with an international tour in the tradition of country music in Califor- The country-tinged “Some Days a Dol- and mire,” Hayes sings. “Tangle Me Up in 2015, lead guitarist and principal song- nia, incorporating elements of both the lar” is a contemplation of the ups and You” draws its inspiration from Bob writer Pete Townshend has launched a Bakersfield sound and the Los Angeles down life has to offer, while the country- Dylan’s “Tangled Up in Blue” and is an un- singer/songwriter scene of the late 1960s rock offering “You’re Not Alone” serves as abashed declaration of love. An Army vet- and early 1970s. a recognition that others can help us to eran who served in Iraq, Hayes uses that The romantically plaintive “Who Do weather life’s storms. time in the service for “The Other Side,’ a You Think You Are?” opens the album Grant, who had a hand in writing ten song about the loss of a friend and the af- with pleasing mix of strings and mariachi of the album’s songs, is a confident singer terlife, and the gospel-influenced “South- horns that reflect the Golden State’s mu- who is able to work in multiple genres. ern River.” Hayes gets strong support sical diversity and complement Outlaw’s “Ain’t Nobody Leaves This Place” reveals throughout from the Retrievers, his back- pensive vocals. The pedal steel guitar of her bluesy side, while “One Too Many” ing band, and marks himself as a song- Jeremy Long and fiddle of Gabe Witcher mines the honky-tonk tradition of drinking writer not afraid to speak his mind. 12 songs. “One too many is not enough to songs, 44 minutes chase you from my mind,” she ruefully sings. The native Georgian draws on her Neil Young ★★★ Southern roots for inspiration. The The Monsanto Years reissue campaign of his solo work. Tr uan- amorous “Trouble on My Mind” features a Reprise Records cy, a compilation of his work outside The Steve Cropper-styled guitar, reminiscent of “It’s a new day for the planet. It’s a bad Who, serves as a solid introduction for ca- his time with Stax Records, while “If You day to do nothing,” Neil Young declares on sual fans, and also includes two new songs Only Knew,” has overtones of the ballads “A New Day for Love,” the opening track of for diehard followers. of Irma Thomas and Percy Sledge. 12 The Monsanto Years. It’s a call to action on Working on his own gave Townshend songs, 42 minutes a concept album that finds him targeting the opportunity to stretch out artistically, the agrochemical and agricultural biotech- from the laid-back folk of “Sheraton Gib- Bryan Hayes ★★★ nology corporation Monsanto, genetically son” to the catchy pop of “Let My Love Farther Down The Line modified food and corporate greed. Open the Door,” a Top 10 single from Self-released Young’s interest in the topic goes back 1980. “A Heart to Hang Onto” a 1977 duet On Farther Down The Line, Bryan to the mid-1980s when he was an early or- with Ronnie Lane from their Rough Mix Hayes isn’t reluctant to pay tribute to his ganizer and continuing supporter of Farm album, is one of Townshend’s finest ro- influences but it still able, for the most Aid. In retrospect, “Who’s Gonna Stand Up mantic ballads. “You Came Back,” an un- part, to put an individual stamp on his and Save the Earth?” which Young released derrated gem from the 1983 album Scoop, music, a blend of country and rock. last year, serves as a preview of the songs is a charming song about reincarnation. enhance the romantic yearning of “Keep “Let’s Ride” echoes Bruce Spring- of his new album. Townshend the rocker also is on dis- it Interesting.” steen’s classic car songs, utilizing the open Backed by Promise of the Real, which play here. The ferocious “English Boy” and Vocally, Outlaw recalls Merle Haggard road as a symbol of freedom and tempo- includes Lukas and Micah Nelson, sons of the musically adventurous “Rough Boys” on “I’m Not Jealous” and evokes the spirit Willie Nelson, Young goes for an amplified, would not have sounded out of place on a of Dwight Yoakam on the Tex-Mex flavored guitar-driven sound that recalls his work Who album. Of the newer songs, “Guan- title track. Outlaw lightens the mood on with Crazy Horse. “Big Box,” with its de- tanamo” is a bluesy lament for the Cuban “Jesus Take the Wheel (and Drive Me to nunciation of corporate sprawl at the ex- prison, while “How Can I Help You” shows the Bar),” and calls to mind the vocal pense of small-town business, and the title Townshend’s gift for a memorable melody. stylings of Gram Parsons. truck stretch out for more than seven and As a single CD, Tr uancy has its limits. Co-producer Ry Cooder, who con- eight minutes, respectively, and could have Fine songs such as “A Little is Enough” and tributes guitar, banjo and bajo sexto on the used a little tightening. “A Friend is a Friend” failed to make the album, provides a sympathetic backing for Young injects a little levity into “A Rock final cut. There is also no sampling of Outlaw’s original songs while allowing the Star Bucks a Coffee Shop,” his jab at Star- Townshend’s live solo work, such as his fla- artist’s personality to come through. From bucks, with a jaunty melody and back- menco-inspired, acoustic version of the intimate “Old Fashioned” to the breezy ground whistling. “People Want to Hear “Drowned” from The Secret Policeman’s pop of “Hole Down in My Heart,” which about Love” examines the subject matter Ball album. Still, it’s good to hear Town- marries an upbeat melody to sobering rary release from the burdens of everyday of songs and what people want to hear shend taking a renewed interest in his solo lyrics, Outlaw is poised to break out as a life. Hayes name-checks Guy Clark and versus what they need to know. “Wolf catalog with the promise of more releases country star. 12 songs, 42 minutes John Prine, two of his songwriting inspira- Moon” is the album’s sole acoustic track to come. 17 songs, 75 minutes tions, in the lyrics. “Small Town Amazing and would have fit it on his landmark Tiffany Huggins Grant ★★★ Grace” is an idyllic presentation of life album Harvest. In the end, Young is follow- Jonquil Child away from the big city that recalls John ing the courage of his convictions and the MGW Records Mellencamp’s “Small Town” with Hayes path of artists like Woody Guthrie and [email protected] Tiffany Huggins Grant has battled al- adding a spiritual element to his song. singing about what he feels needs to be coholism and depression and these strug- With “Our Love is like a Tractor Tire,” he changed. 9 songs, 51 minutes ■

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