R.G. Stark : “Not Crazy Tonight”

R. G. Starks’s Southwestern blue-collar narratives coupled with his (occasionally crooning) baritone highlight an impressive solo debut. Hints of influences shine through in the instruments, styles and artists: horns,fiddle and accordion, Tex-Mex and country(politan), and Sahm and Orbison.

Stark’s songwriting reminds me of the great singer-songwriter Tom Russell while his voice recalls Chris Isaac with a tougher rougher Texas barroom edge. "Mineral Springs”, “Coyote", "Narcocorrido Nuevo Laredo" and “Monterrey” are just begging to be covered (not that there is anything wrong with Stark’s versions). R. G. makes me wish I was living in Texas again sitting in an ice house with a beer wrapped in old yellow pages (the original pre-koozie beer cooler) listening to Stark and company.

There is a video on YouTube of R.G. performing “Cookie and the Cupcakes” swamp-rock classic "Mathilde”. It would have been nice touch to cut that track in the studio and add it as a bonus track to the already excellent “Not Crazy Tonight”.