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Calvin Russell | Rebel Radio

They should sell this album with a truck.
CD, Pedernales

Tekst: Maurice Dielemans

Publicatiedatum: 22 november 2001

Calvin Russell, obviously a true survivor and a hardworking country boy from Texas, his past etched in every line of his face and hands. As a country boy who wakes up every morning with that doggone white man's blues, it's not hard for Calvin Russell to find the inspiration in the troubles of his daily life and put it into four-minute novels. Strangely enough, Calvin Russell only penned two out of thirteen tracks on his latest release 'Rebel Radio'. Nestled in good Texas tradition, Russell covers three songs by Townes van Zandt: the album's leadoff track 'Still Looking for You', the lost classic 'Ain't Leaving Your Love', and, simply the highlight on 'Rebel Radio', 'I'll Be Here in the Morning'. He also borrowed some nice tunes from The Rolling Stones, Gillian Welch, and Willie Nelson, all them good, rocking country songs and not without a sincere love of the originals. With a voice that can even scare die-hard fans of Leonard Cohen, Russell's own back-to-roots style is very much like a great ravine that stretches endlessly from straight-forward honky-tonk road songs to hard-rocking blues, but always meant to be played with the volume cranked up to war level. Still, the simplicity of his words and music is the essence of his well-chosen formula. The comfortable easiness and coolness that comes with these tasteful tunes often gives the listener the idea that making music is dead simple for everyone, and, of course, it should be direct and simple like on Russell's 'Rebel Radio'. On the other hand, it's also kind of dangerous, because it often makes other music seem like a waste of time and somewhat pretentious, but maybe that's exactly what good music is supposed to do. OK, sometimes he might come across as your grumpy grandfather, but he always finds his way to add an emotional impact to his music, and that's why it's not that hard to like his road songs. Although it shows that Mr. Russell is having a good time, I must admit that it would have sounded better to slow down some of these rollicking road songs such as 'It Is What It Is' and 'Country Boy'. Well, I'm not complaining here, because it is what it is, and it is another excellent collection of truck-driving songs from Calvin Russell. So, if you are a fan of country music and you drive a truck, you should already own this album. If you're not, they should sell you this album with a truck, so you'll end up riding a big truck and listening non-stop to Calvin Russell's 'Rebel Radio'.

http://www.kindamuzik.net/recensie/calvin-russell/rebel-radio/1272/
Meer Calvin Russell op KindaMuzik: http://www.kindamuzik.net/artiest/calvin-russell