Down at the End of the Bar
self-released
Up-and-coming, Austin-based singer-songwriter Rondeau’s sophomore effort is a real beaut. His brand of “I did it my way” country is at once original and traditional; mainstream and avant garde; foreign yet familiar.
Comparisons are elusive, but not since Gram Parsons/Poco/New Riders/Marshall Tucker has the genre been melded properly with the intangible “it” to create something new and exciting. His high, lonesome and twangy voice nearly floats atop a bed of not quite country rock and sometimes slightly cosmic American music.
Others have attempted this feat: the short-lived Southern California band Beachwood Sparks or “Cold Roses”-era Ryan Adams. But Rondeau has them beat because he not only makes good use of fiddles, banjos, mandolins, dobros and steel guitars, he’s a storyteller as well.
Much of his subject matter involves women who’ve done their men wrong in one way or another, but he also regales with tales of ramblers, barflies, middle-aged women with small-town blues, and siblings coming of age in the Old West.
Check out some of this wordplay:
(from “You Ain’t for Me”)
No tears obstructed her vision
In her voice there was no quivering
No trembling in her lips
No turning back in her hips
No goodbye would grace her tongue
A solemn look then she was gone
From lovers to nothing
Why I just never saw it coming
(and from “Rhinestones”)
They were all wanting handouts
And I was passing around beats
The shufflers wanted four
And the waltzers wanted three
And I’ve barely got it together
Please allow me to explain
I’m not going to be the one
To drive this boogie woogie choo choo train
One last observation to make a case for Rondeau’s music: He’s such a maverick that, on a couple of songs, he dares to mix horns with country — something only Marty Robbins, the Kinks (circa “Muswell Hillbillies”) and the Hacienda Brothers have ever done well.
Tracks
1. No Friend To Louisiann
2. Down At The End Of The Bar
3. You Ain’t For Me
4. Weary Owls
5. She’ll Get The Advantage
6. Rapture
7. Blues Came Today
8. Rhinestones
9. Elephant In This Room
10. Had I Known
11. Better Place For You
Total time: 40:03
External links
artist’s website
My Texas Music
CD Baby
Hey leo! i like your music. my name is jessica rondeau. we got the same last name, i thought that was pretty cool! my brother (daniel) is a musician and has his own band. my whole family is pretty much made up of musicians! maybe were long lost relatives! hahaha write me back!
September 27, 2009 at 7:21 pm