Randy Rogers Band is back with a new album. The Texas-based band is composed of Randy Rogers, Geoffrey Hill, John Richardson, Brady Black, and Les Lawless. They have recorded four studio albums and two live albums, and have charted seven singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. Now I have to admit, I wasn’t that familiar with Randy Rogers Band up until I reviewed his album with Wade Bowen, Hold My Beer, Vol. 1, which peaked at #4 on the charts. The record received a great deal of praise from critics, and justifiably so, it’s an excellent album, one that made me a fan of both men. Randy Rogers Band released their latest record Nothing Shines Like Neon on January 15th.
There’s something nice and pure about Texas Country music. It’s real, raw, and bare-bones country. As soon as the song starts playing, you’re taken back to a simpler, seemingly happier time period, when people still waltzed and line danced all night long. The main themes that are threaded through most of the songs featured on this record involve neon in some way or another, and stories about every day people. Nothing Shines Like Neon opens with “San Antone”, an ode to the famous Texas city, San Antonio, and its culture/traditions. The narrator sings about his love for his hometown, San Antonio, and wants to be buried there when his time comes.
“Rain and the Radio”, which features an infectious groove, is essentially a love song. The track finds the couple holed up at home during some bad weather, and taking full advantage of the situation. The song features one of my favorite lines, “Now baby this house is haunted with a burning desire”, on the record, among other creatively-worded lines, all spinning a tale of two people dancing and romancing to the rhythm of the rain. “Old Moon New” is a slower tune featuring the sweet cry of a fiddle, and is another, sweeter love song. “Rain and the Radio” had raw passion and was a more rough around the edges love song, whereas “Old Moon New” has a sweeter, softer approach.
“Neon Blues” finds a woman at a bar drinking her troubles away. The song tells the tale of a young woman trying to get over a man who did her wrong and left her. She doesn’t have a very positive outlook on love anymore, due to her bad track record with men. The narrator tells the listener that she’s not looking for love, that tonight she’s just looking to get him off her mind and get rid of her neon blues. “Neon Blues” is one of the standouts on this record. It’s one of those songs that as soon as it starts you just know that it’s a great song, and there’s no specific reason you can put your finger on that makes it great, it just is. It’s more of a feeling.
Randy Rogers Band teams up with Bluegrass legend Alison Krauss and her fellow Union Station member, Dan Tyminski for “Look Out Yonder”. The song is soft and sweet, and finds the narrator singing to his mother about her son who has a heart of gold, and who’s finally coming home. All three voices blend beautifully together on this sweet tune.
Another collaboration featured on Nothing Shines Like Neon is on the rowdy, honky tonk “Takin’ It As It Comes”, with iconic country singer Jerry Jeff Walker. You will not be able to sit still listening to this song. The tune is incredibly infectious, and will make you want to get down on the dance floor and do some Texas line-dancing. The song finds Randy and Jerry Jeff swapping lines, as they sing about taking life as it comes, and reminiscing about the good ole times. I admit, if you name drop John Wayne in a song, chances are it’ll rate a little higher with me. “Takin’ It As it Comes” is indeed the number one standout on this awesome record, it’s just way too fun and catchy not to be.
The third and last collaboration featured on the album is “Actin’ Crazy” with Jamey Johnson. The song features a sound reminiscent of Waylon Jennings, and finds the two men singing about the crazier, rougher side of life. They come to the conclusion that they “ain’t getting’ nowhere in this life actin’ crazy”. The record closes out with “Pour One for the Poor One”, a woe-is-me, good ole country song. The song rounds out an excellent, solid album. The record’s production is easy on the ears, and the lyrical content is solid and enjoyable. I’d recommend Nothing Shines Like Neon to anyone looking for great, REAL country music. Seriously, you don’t want to miss out on this one.
Originally posted here.
