"The Lonesome Dirge"/Rodney Parker & Fifty Peso Reward

Rodney Parker & Fifty Peso Reward might get lumped into the Uncle Tupelo/Son Volt/Jayhawks alt country crowd, but their new release "The Lonesome Dirge” is much more than that. Parker’s songs are perfect examples of radio friendly “rural pop” (a phrase coined by the underappreciated NC band Lou Ford). The spaghetti western flavored “Firefight” kicks the disc off with a gallop and the second track,"10 Lb.Test", sets the hook. No question. I was reviewing this disc. A full band version of Springsteen’s “Atlantic City” and a heartfelt take on Friedman’s “The Wild Man of Borneo” fit in perfectly with the nine original guitar tunes from the band. “I’m Never Gonna Get Married” may be the best song the Pogues never wrote. Rodney Parker is the best new singer-songwriter I’ve heard this year. Bring on the challengers. I don’t expect him to be dethroned. “The Lonesome Dirge” will be on my list of the top ten discs of 2008.

Rodney Parker & Fifty Peso Reward (Gabriel Pearson, Danny Skinner, Brooks Kendall and Zach Galindo). Stop by and listen!

"The Lonesome Dirge" street date: 4/08/08