Since it’s been a good while since I referred back to my Texas country-funk of a few months ago, I figured that now would be a decent time to highlight one of the several bands that helped me climb out of that state of general fuzziness. I’ve mentioned a few already: Opie Hendrix, Randy Rogers, Uncle Lucius and Brison Bursey, among others. If you’ve been paying attention, many of these are acts that my friends at Galleywinter have helped turn me on to. To be honest, the following band is not different, actually.
Rosehill, a realtively new Texas-based duo consisting of Mitch McBain and Blake Myers, is a great example to other new Texas country acts that one can be polished without being cheesy. After listening to the Cypress-born duo’s debut, White Lines and Stars, it is crystal clear that a band doesnt have to go overboard with the raw grittiness to be taken seriously, either.
The guys got their start in alt-country act Texas High Life. Just because they left that band to start a new one doesnt mean they left their alt-country stylings behind them. Focusing on up-tempo tunes that cover a range of topics that will typically be found on a country record, the mark of their well-established producer, the near-legendary (for us Texans, at least) Radney Foster, is plain to hear. Many of the songs, including the poetic and wistful title track, successfully straddle the fence of modern Top 40 country and heartland rock.
There are a few notable sonic side-tracks on this album that help lend the boys even more distinction. “Picassos for Pesos” is a thoughtful, accordian and flamenco guitar accented gem where they take a look at the emptiness of the past as they are experiencing fulfillment in the present.
Not to be cheesy, but Rosehill’s future should be plenty fulfilling if they keep cranking out such high-caliber material. In the next few days, I have a few words on the last, main band that rescued me from the funk I have thankfully been apart from for a while now.
Kelly Dearmore is a freelance writer, mean pot of chili maker and opinionated music lover. To read more about what Kelly is listening to, visit him here on The Squawker weekly or daily on his personal music blog, The Gobblers Knob
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