Published on Dec 13, 2000
I don’t know whether it’s a statement about how country music is
today or whether it’s just an issue of personal preference – but I
find myself drawn to modern music that has an older feel to it. Oh,
sure, I like artists such as Garth Brooks, Brooks & Dunn and so
on… but when I hear albums like
Life & 20 by The Domino Kings, I know these are the
types of discs I could leave in the player non-stop.
The band – bassist Brian Capps, guitarist Stevie Newman and
drummer Les Gallier – succeed in bringing back true Western music,
almost in the vein of Hank Williams or Roy Rogers. The 14 cuts on
this disc absolutely shine, and while there’s enough heartbreak and
pain to fill a week’s worth of episodes of your favorite soap
opera, I doubt there’s many other bands who could make that pain
feel so good to hear about.
What’s unique about
Life & 20 is that every single song on this disc is an
original composition by the band (save for one, which was
co-written by the band and Loren Evans), yet they manage to capture
the essence of generations of this type of music. That alone lets
you know that you’re listening to something truly special.
Whether it’s the slightly rock-tinged “Borrow A Lie,” the
juke-joint boogie of “The End Of You” or the unique blend of
influences in songs like “Anything But You,” “Alice” and “Steppin’
Out Again,” The Domino Kings succeed in capturing the listener from
the first note and refuse to let go until the CD has stopped
spinning. They don’t just follow the musical traditions of their
forefathers; they make them
better.
And you know something? The sad thing about
Life & 20 is that many people wouldn’t bother to look
for this disc, only because the band is on a smaller label. I’d be
willing to bet that many country radio stations wouldn’t be willing
to dump the latest overplayed Faith Hill single to make way for
something with some Western substance. That’s not fair to these
guys, who absolutely pour their entire beings into the music on
this disc. I’m not saying it has to sell enough copies to top the
Billboard charts (though that’s not a bad idea), but
Life & 20 deserves to be given a fighting chance by
everyone.
Sure, this disc might be a little harder to find (though I know
that CDNOW stocks it), but after just one session with
Life & 20, you’ll be glad you gave The Domino Kings a
fighting chance on your stereo system. This is country music for
country music’s sake, and it’s one of the best discs I’ve listened
to all year.