Randall Bramblett - Rich Someday '2006

Tracks list

Tracklist

01. Where Are You Tonight
02. Beautiful Blur
03. Rich Someday
04. It's Alright
05. Silence
06. Somebody Like Me
07. The More You're Fading
08. Rainville
09. Queen of England
10. Hate to See You Go
11. Oil Spot
12. Stupid Shoes
13. Concrete Mind

For his third album on New West, singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Randall
Bramblett delivers another terrific set of intelligent, folk-inflected Southern
rock. Drummer Gerry Hansen replaces Michael Rhodes as producer and he helps
position the sound to be more direct and stripped down than on past Bramblett
releases. There are fewer loops and not as much layering of instruments, which
makes the approach more immediate, but no less affecting. Bramblett's honey and
grits voice perfectly conveys the feeling of loss that runs through the
melancholy lyrics of tunes such as the lovely "The More You Fade," "Hate to See
You Go," and the opening "Where Are You Tonight?" That's not to infer that these
songs are depressing. On the contrary, the predominantly midtempo arrangements
and melodic choruses are inviting, and even on the forlorn "Stupid Shoes" the
swampy vibe is as compelling as anything from ex-employer Steve Winwood. Each
track is a mini-story as Bramblett's earthy yet often dreamy lyrics and rootsy
instrumentation enhance the muted colors. The "oil spot" that leads off "Oil
Spot" is obviously a metaphor for something much different, but it is never
explained. There are a few more rockers than usual, in particular the rollicking
title track and "Queen of England," the only tune where Bramblett unleashes his
sax. Instead, Bramblett's keyboards and acoustic guitar flavor the songs, all of
which are beautifully arranged and immaculately, but not soullessly performed.
Hansen's creative drum fills and longtime associate Davis Causey's less-is-more
electric guitar solos hug the curves of the material and flesh out the melodies.
Bramblett's moody ballads dominate with "It's Alright," one of the most stunning
tunes despite its rather simplistic title. Repeated plays yield increased
enjoyment as the songs gradually take hold and the lyrical turns and musical
subtleties like the humming background vocals in "Somebody Like Me" become more
apparent. For an artist who has stayed under the radar for too long, Rich
Someday deserves to be the album to put talented veteran Bramblett on the map.



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