After one listen, it's already my favorite Shaver album since Tramp On
Your Street. He's still recycling some old songs, but the new tough
versions of "When The Word Was Thunderbird" and "Lately I've Been Leanin'
Toward The Blues" are definitely worth having, and there's lots of other
highlights, like "Try and Try Again" (where Billy Joe is seized by
near-evangelical fervor), the bluesy acoustic rendering of "New York
City," the blistering roadhouse stomp of "You Wouldn't Know Love (If You
Fell In It)," the lilting, tex-mex flavored "Manual Labor," the bluesy
love ballad "I'll Be Here," the rowdy dancehall sound of "Way Down Texas
Way," and the sweet acoustic country of the album closer, "She Can Dance."
The only real misstep is the somewhat-silly "People and Their Problems,"
but ragging on one song seems like quibbling when the rest of the album's
so strong.
Billy Joe's craggy voice keeps sounding better with age, and Eddy plays
with some welcome restraint, even when he's tossing out some scorching
licks. And don't be misled by the album's title -- it ain't nearly as
electric as that raucous live album from a few years back. There's some
lovely acoustic tunes, along with some more fiery numbers. Overall, it's a
near-perfect blend of country, blues and rock 'n' roll, and unlike some of
the other combinations of the above offered up by more genteel types,
Billy Joe's roots-music brew delivers a helluva kick. You sure won't find
it on your local radio station sandwiched between Bruce Hornsby and Shawn
Mullins. Electric Shaver's due out next Tuesday May 4th on New West
Records.--don
