Published on Aug 28, 2001
Sometimes, I feel the biggest discoveries in music are bound to
be left undiscovered because of the way people perceive them –
perceptions which, often, are incorrect.
Take Joe Consumer, for example. He’s a rock music fan who’s not
afraid to have his tunes branch out into a little funk or even
adult contemporary. But he hates country music – hates it with a
passion. So when he sees a disc like Randall Bramblett’s
No More Mr. Lucky on the shelves with a record label of New
West, he’s going to avoid it like Pig Pen avoided water in the
Peanuts comic strip.
Two words:
YOU FOOL! Bramblett has, with this disc, created a wonderful
sonic sculpture which hooks the listener in every track, crafting a
sound which is closer to mainstream rock than any variant of
Western or country music I know of. If there was a disc I’d have to
pick as a potential breakthrough for 2001, Bramblett would win the
prize hands down.
With a vocal style that reminds me of Del Amitri’s Justin Currie
at times, Bramblett shows off the magic of the lyric when paired
with equally powerful music. “Lost Enough” is such a track, with a
captivating bass line from Michael Rhodes gently driving the song
into a gentle, shuffling rhythm that leaves the listener’s ears
dancing. Bramblett’s unique poetry – taking the view of the
Everyman, his self-doubts and his hopes – puts the listener
directly in the song, and makes you feel like Bramblett is singing
directly to you. Likewise, tracks such as “Sunflower,” “End Of The
String” and the first single “Peace In Here” all offer rays of hope
– or at least stark pictures of life that everyone can relate to –
set to some beautiful music.
But Bramblett is not afraid to turn the energy up on
No More Mr. Lucky, and successfully does so without taking
any of the power from his ballads. “Get In Get Out” is absolutely
tasty, with an almost funk beat to the music and the style in which
Bramblett delivers his vocals. Bramblett’s saxophone work also
shines on this song. (Regrettably, there’s the occasional moment
where it doesn’t fit in, such as the solo on “God Was In The
Water,” a solo I don’t think even Edgar Winter could have
successfully laid in at that juncture.) “Hard To Be A Human” is a
light-hearted look at the relationship between men and women, as
well as humans to their own existence, all tied up with Adam &
Eve references.
I’ve spent well over three weeks listening to
No More Mr. Lucky, trying to get all of the nuances which
Bramblett has put into these 11 songs. But, after a while, all you
can do is sit back and let the music envelop you… and, brother,
what a trip it takes you on. The more I’ve listened to this disc,
the more I’ve liked it – and I happened to like it right out of the
shrink wrap.
Bramblett not only successfully captures the human condition on
No More Mr. Lucky, but he wraps it up inside a slew of
well-written, wonderfully performed songs. This is a disc which is
screaming to be discovered. Pick it up now, and find out for
yourself why Bramblett is a star who is waiting for his chance to
shine.