Published on Mar 24, 2003
I know, I know. I can see the panic in your eyes already, O Ye
DV Faithful. Another seventies staple band dusting off their
instruments and putting out a CD of guaranteed VH-1 appeal and
dubious quality. (Although it’s not as if VH-1 actually plays music
videos anymore — but I digress. That’s a rant for another time.)
Last time we dealt with this, I roasted Jefferson Starship over a
slow flame — and I don’t know about y’all, but this whole
Fleetwood Mac Night Of The Living Dead Zombie Comeback thing is
starting to get on my nerves.
So, I suppose there’s no reason to have any high hopes for
Running Horse, the first album from country-rockers Poco in
thirteen years. Sure, Poco was always pretty cool; while some bands
in the country-rock genre sold out for success, they put out a
pretty fair group of albums between the late sixties and early
eighties without compromising themselves. Their first comeback,
Legacy, produced one of the catchier singles of 1989, “Call
It Love.” But how much could we expect?
Surprise, surprise, folks; this is why we actually listen to the
CDs.
Running Horse is pretty damn good.
First off, this band is tight. Original Poco members Rusty Young
and George Grantham are joined by almost-original member Paul
Cotton, whose harder-edged sound is a key component to this new
millennium Poco. The fourth member, Jack Sundrud, is a long-time
Nashville session musician who has worked with the band in the
past. Add in some co-writing credits from Craig Fuller of Pure
Prairie League and newgrass great John Cowan (a past favorite of
mine whose
Always Take Me Back CD appeared on last year’s Top Ten), and
what we have here is some nonpareil musicianship. The production of
Mike Clute, whose past credits include Diamond Rio and Blackhawk,
provides a shining focus for Poco’s trademark harmonies and Rusty
Young’s breathtaking guitar, mandolin, and dobro work.
Tracks worth noting include Cotton’s driving “Every Time I Hear
That Train”; the joyous love song “Forever,” a contribution from
newest member Sundrud; the rollicking good-time “Never Get Enough”;
and the quirky “Shake It,” wherein Poco talks about rap music.
Unexpected, but kinda cool.
Far from being another tired nostalgia retread,
Running Horse proves that Poco hasn’t lost a step. Fans of
country-rock music should really check it out.