Webb Wilder- "Town and Country" a review of the new CD
With the opening sound of the guitar in "Stay Out Of Automobiles", WebbWilder is back on the music scene with his first release in four years.Webb actually never left the music scene. As he told me after a recentshow, "the tour that never ends". Webb has been constantly touring theeast coast and midwest over the past few years. Playing to "adoringpublic" is something that Webb enjoys. Now there is a new record with somegreat songs to add to the always entertaining live show.
This record is different from past Webb releases yet it is also similar.It differs since every song on this album is from another artists. It isthe same due to Webb's treatment of the songs. He makes them sound likethe Webb Wilder music we know and love. Not to country, not too rock androll. As Webb states on the track "To The Loving Public": "I'll alwayssaid I had one foot in country and one in rock and roll and since they'reboth about 13A, I'm covering a lot of ground". This is a collection of theband's favorite road songs. "It's just us doing songs we like by otherpeople... like the way you'd put together a car tape but we're usingequipment that sounds better..." ays long-time Webb producer R. S. Field.
The songs vary from rock to country yet they sound like originals to mesince I have never heard many of the originals. Keeping with a traditionof always having a cool instrumental number on each of the previous threereleases, Webb covers the theme from "Goldfinger" in great fashion. "TalkTalk" is a song I recall being done by Alice Cooper way back when althoughthe original was done by Music Machine. Here it gets the Webb treatmentand comes off sounding great. My favorites include "Slow Death", "Stay OutOf Automobiles", and "Lover Not A Fighter" (reminiscent of the BeatFarmers great version).
Les James keeps a steady beat with solid drumming while Kelly Looneyrounds out the rhythm section on bass. George "Torch" Bradfute- the ToneChaperone cranks out some great licks on the guitar as does Webb himself.Songs like "Slow Death", "Honky Tonk Hell", "Rockin' Little Angel", and"Short On Love" all sound fresh and work well together. All told, WebbWilder is one of the most underrated artists currently playing today. Hehas great crossover potential with the popularity of country music today.BUT don't get me wrong, Webb Wilder is a rock and roller.
As Webb says, " There's no beginning, there's no end, just an eternal Webb"
"Town and Country" will be released Feb. 21, 1995 by Watermelon Records(Austin, Texas) and found at finer music stores. The catalog number is WM1018 and is available on CD or cassette. Be sure to get a copy of thisgreat CD.
Town and Country won the Best Indie Album of the Year at the 1996 Nashville Music Awards show, the Nammies, last night (2/21/96).
Webb was also a presenter, too, with Ashley Judd. Cool, huh?