Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses / Roadhouse Sun

Although I enjoyed Ryan's major label debut "Mescalito", "Roadhouse Sun" on Lost Highway Records is the Bingham disc to buy. "Dylan's Hard Rain" owes as much to early Springsteen as Dylan as the words and rhymes pour out in a flood over guitar and piano. "Change Is" rocks as hard as any Texas tune from recent history and "Hey Hey Hurray" is a stomping political commentary that shows Ryan's got plenty to say. Several of the slower tracks, including "Bluebird" and "Roadhouse Blues", will please fans of famous Texas troubadors (Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock for example). With the assistance of Marc Ford (formerly of the Black Crowes) Ryan's followed up a good disc with a great one.

Play status: heavy rotation