Different Point Of View
Rick Ferrell
There’s a fast-food chain whose slogan is “Different Is Good.” For new artist Rick Ferrell, another Buckeye State native, being different is not the best compliment. The guy has a voice that’s rather annoying, and that’s not the best trait to have if you want to be a singer. “I want to step out of line and have my own identity, rather than follow what others have done,” he says. Ferrell became a bit of a hot commodity in the last few months after he wrote the No. 1 smash, “Something Like That,” for Tim McGraw.
Working with legendary producer and record label boss James Stroud, Ferrell’s 12-tune tapestry is centered on love, or the loss of it. Give the guy credit; he had a hand in writing all of the songs, and he wrote five of them all by himself. In the song “Lucky Man,” he talks about going past a truckstop. The best track is the album’s title song. This heartbreaking song is definitely worth a play. “See The World With You” and “I’ll Always Love That Girl” are notable as well. Otherwise, the rest of the cuts are annoying and uneventful.
Grade: C-
Let’s Get Together
Dickey Betts
Allman Brothers Band legend Dickey Betts is reinvigorated with his first solo effort since 1988. For more than 30 years, Betts played lead guitar and sang for the immortal Southern Rock (or Progressive Rock as Betts calls it) group. Through the decades, Betts has ebbed and flowed with the cultural and musical climate. Though he may not party as hard today as he did in the ’70s, his music is as hard as ever.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member picks a mean guitar, and you’ll hear it loud and proud on Let’s Get Together. The disc starts with the mover “Rave On.” Betts’ soft side shows on “Dona Maria,” a song for his wife. The eerie “Tombstone Eyes,” also written by Betts, is on display. Despite the ABB making $40 million, the group went broke. Now, the veteran knows the business of music, and he enjoys making and playing it – as evidenced by Let’s Get Together. If you’re a rocker, you’ll love this gem!
Grade: A-
