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Laurie Johnson of “In the House” makes a guest appearance playing harmonica on the first track, “Stetson Cologne and a Fender Telecaster”. It tells the tale of Johnny, a guitar-playing ladies’ man who offers some advice to the guys, “If you want to know the reason why I get the girls a little bit faster/
It’s my Stetson cologne and my Fender Telecaster”. |
Wally Giffin offers his pedal steel guitar skills on “In the Doghouse Again”. This humorous number, with Crain singing about having to hang with man’s best friend when he is in hot water with the old lady. “So tonight I’m gonna drink beer and listen to some beer drinkin’ songs/At least I’ve got an old buddy here with me to listen right along/ Zeke, looks like it’s you and me friend, out in the doghouse again”.
On the title track, Crain describes surfing through the radio dial. “Found a smooth jazz station, nice and relaxing/ But to get my day started I like a little more action”. Next he comes across a talk radio show, with the host discussing a personal matter with a caller. “These days they lay it all out there, anything goes/ So thank God there’s country radio”. The song has a tasteful guitar solo, although I don’t know if it’s from Crain or the other guitarist, Dave Croston.
“Like the First Time” is about love at first sight. This number is somewhat sappy, especially with the strings in the background.
“He Thinks He’s Elvis” is a humorous tune about an old man in a nursing home who thinks he is Elvis Presley. “He’s wearing Blue Suede Shoes and a Good Luck Charm as he goes struttin’ out the door/ Long gone are the jumpsuit days, they don’t fit him anymore”. Nice phrasing on the guitar chords.
On the upbeat “Lady Deluxe”, Crain has found the perfect woman. “She likes NASCAR, football, pickup trucks/ Cookin’ in the kitchen, red hot love/ Wears black leather, smooth to the touch/ Ooh, good gosh what a lady deluxe”. “Big Fun in a Little Town” is a rollicking number about playing in a town where the only excitement is catching a show at the bar on Saturday nights.
Crain goes in a reggae direction on “Is Good to Be Gray”. Croston plays keyboards, and the horn sounds are probably created on his keyboards. The sounds combine for a festive vibe on this number about life getting better with age. Crain is feeling good and has more money than when young. The children are grown up, and he and the wife have a smaller house with less upkeep. “Libido still up and golf score is going down/ the other day I got a hole in one”.
“Pretty on the Outside” is done in a country/rock style. The keyboards make this different than the more traditional country numbers. Crain recalls a woman who was his lover for three weeks. He is glad he got away from her while he could. “If you like those pretty girls better think twice/ ‘Cause they can reel you in and leave you totally fried/ When they’re ugly underneath, just pretty on the outside”.
With the exception of the last two tracks, this album is old-school country. Buy it for your friends who listen to Rascal Flatts so they can hear what the real deal sounds like. –Reviewed by John Larson, Tacoma Weekly |