Search - Railbenders :: Segundo

Climb Aboard!!

Timothy P. Gregor | Denver, CO USA | 02/18/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Classic country music is cool again. Really cool. While most genre's of music from yesteryears rely on the occasional nostalgic whims of a buying public hungry to relive the old songs, the likes of Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, and Waylon Jennings have influenced a whole crop of new artists intent on keeping alive their long standing gospel of hard drinking, hard loving, and hard living. With a sound that approaches radio friendly whithout selling out to the trappings and overproduction of current Nashville fare, The Railbenders are destined to help lead the way in bringing more numbers into the fold.The band's second album, Segundo, features ten beer soaked romps that are guarenteed to catch the ear of even those who profess no entheusiasm for country music. It represents a major step forward for the band in that the songs on this record are far richer musically, lyrically, and in texture than their debut release, Southbound.The proceedings open with the melodic and heartbreaking "Whiskey Rain". The song tells the story of someone who has reached the fateful decision to take their own life after one last night of heavy drinking. While most of the songs on Segundo serve up the meloncholy with a dash of tongue in cheek humor, "Whiskey Rain" drowns the listener in the hopelessness of it's protagonist to full effect.The albums second strong cut is a country rock flavored gem called "Payphone". It is this cut more than any other on the album that seems to indicate The Railbenders are destined to reach a wider audience. "This payphone don't take tear drops." lead vocalist Jim Daltton laments over and over again as he tells the story of someone who decided to tell their beloved how they feel a little too late and while a little too drunk and a lot too broke. We end up realizing that the protagonist was probably better off spending their last dime elsewhere anyway.The remainder of Segundo falls into line with a more traditional country sound, for the most part to excellent effect. "Country Song" tells the story of a drifter who longs to meet up again with a long lost loved one, while "Someone Take This Bottle" benefits from some great slide guitar work and it's ironic story about one of those people who expect someone else to solve their problems for them.There are two cover tunes on "Segundo". One works wondefully and the other proves to be Segundo's only mis-step. Hank Jr.'s "OD'd In Denver" comes off loose and fun as Daltton trades vocals with guest performer Eddie Spaghetti from the southern fried punk rock band, The Supersuckers. Neil Diamonds "Sweet Caroline" doesn't fare so well. The sped up tempo the band brings to the song makes it sound cluttered and tense.The remainder of Segundo is filled with solid and very listenable traditional country fare that makes this record a must have for any collection. It isn't the perfect record from first cut to last, but there is room to grow. I for one look forward to experiencing that growth. We have a great deal of amazing music to look forward to from The Railbenders in the future."