Bruce Marshall, former member of the Toy Caldwell Band, recently released "Kailspell" on ATM Records. It features a great cover of This Ol Cowboy... and his rendition absolutely blows me away! While it stays true to the original's vibe, the BMG adds a very cool piece of themselves to one of the coolest songs that's ever been written. What's really amazing is that the tone of Toy's guitar is replicated better than I've ever heard before. If you didn't know, you'd swear it was Toy. It sounds like vintage MTB. Bruce says, "in the spirit of Toy's approach, we cut the song live with no overdubs. Only first take solos allowed!" He goes on to say, "I miss that man so much." If Cowboy were the only good song on the disc, it would be worth the price alone - but the CD is captivating throughout. It's not southern rock, but it some of the most refreshing stuff I've heard recently. Why is it that my favorite music of late has come from independent artists? Perhaps its because they can record whatever they damn well please and they stay true to themselves. This is certainly true of the Bruce Marshall Group.
The CD jump starts with a jazz flavored tune called Last Call and First Light. The horns also add a Big Band era vibe. And the rhythm section. Wow! It reminds me of MTB's George McCorkle and Paul Riddle. Lyrically, I'm reminded of my single days and the frustration those love forsaken nights could bring. The next song takes us to Kalispell; a town near Glacier National Park that Bruce encountered while riding his motorcycle to Yellowstone. This song is just begging me to take it for a ride to the Sierra's so I can roll down the window, crank up the volume and take in the smell of the pines and the freedom that the mountains bring. Great songs take you on a journey and this one takes me for a soul cleansing ride without ever leaving home. There is some sweet, sweet fiddle playing that accentuates this theme. It's an anthem I haven't stopped playing since I got it. The quality of my speakers are being tested for sure.
You Can't Cheat Fate is a powerful message about the angst we all feel trying to figure out why things happen the way they do. The bittersweet feeling is captured perfectly both lyrically and musically. Dance Hall Sweat is a roadhouse rocker that fondly recalls those teenage days when bands played dances (instead of DJs). A Charlie Daniels style fiddle accompanies the track. Actually, this would make a great CDB song... Say Little takes you back to the 40's - I know my Mom would love this tune. The band is versatile and this tune is but one example. While it reminds me of the 40's, the electric guitar solos and interplay substitutes for the horns that would have accompanied the tune back then. And there's a line at the end that cracks me up. Too funny!
Can I Change My Mind is a cover of the R & B song that was a hit for Tyrone Davis. This rendition oozes with coolness and soul. Again, the guitar work is outstanding. And you gotta love that sax! Cold April Rain brilliantly captures the mood of a cold, rainy day. It smolders with subtle intensity. I would love to hear this song performed live - it's the kind of song that's just begging for extended treatment. There's some very fine sax work at the fade. What Kind of Fool picks up the tempo and is highlighted by harmonica and the type of background bass singer that makes women swoon.
I Need a Raise is a rockin' little shuffle that would be a crowd pleasing sing-a-long in concert. Paper Trail carries the monetary theme all the way to bankruptcy and jail. A dark smoky song, it is appropriate for these days of uncertainty and sadly all to biographical for many. The seven minute cover of This Ol Cowboy follows. Rescue is a forlorn song about heartache and 20/20 hindsight. The down on your luck theme continues with Man Out of Time though musically the tempo picks up - and it captures the turmoil of the lyrics nicely. House Lo Mein, an instrumental, reveals the versatility and strength of musicianship of the Bruce Marshall Group. This is one tight band. I hope that a double-live CD is on the horizon because for those of us who can't make it to the East Coast, we need the privilege of hearing this band at what I'm sure is an unforgettable show. I have no doubt they absolutely smolder!
The CD features a ten-page booklet that includes liner notes, lyrics and insight into why Bruce wrote or chose to record each song. He definitely gives his fans their money's worth!
I first heard Bruce Marshall on a live Toy Caldwell tape (Upper Saddle Creek, New Jersey, 1990) and was blown away by Welcome to the Human Race. Paul Hornsby said, "it has all the makings of a hit." That song - performed by the TCB - is featured on the BMG's debut CD "Love of the Ride", released in 1992.
To find out how to purchase Bruce's CDs and hear sound clips visit his website - just click here!
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