Great new album from ex-rockabilly singer who’s going places.
There’s something quite unique in listening to an album when one has absolutely no idea about the artist at hand. When this CD landed, any background information on Mayes was sparse to say the least. He’s from Shawnee, Oklahoma, and he’s had a 20-year career playing rock’n’roll music, and this album is his fourth solo release, albeit one which now showcases his love and appreciation of honky-tonk, folk and alt country. So some research was carried out, and lo and behold, he’s released three really good, accomplished rockabilly albums. There’s a mixture of up-tempo rockers, but there’s also some lovely, laid-back material, which links us to this great new album. One of these releases When Love Come Down, was recorded in Portugal with ex-Polecats member Boz Boorer and Phil Polecat and, as with the other two, was really well received as a brave new voice in the rockabilly world.
So here, this collection shows his talents in a very different musical environment, but no less successful. He has a beautiful, rich, and malleable voice, and on these songs he’s joined by Johnny Carlton on upright bass, Steve Boaz on drums, and Kyle Read on pedal steel, electric guitar, Hammond organ, Baritone Guitar, and synth.
We open on a lovely instrumental Prelude-Take The Moon, which sets the tone for the set, with its western feel, acoustic guitar strumming and assorted vocal goodies. Great start. Next up is Burn It Down – a moody and reflective shuffle, which brings back a prominent Roy Orbison feel. No bad thing. The challenges of men not showing their emotions is the beating heart of another laid-back track, Never Alone, pedal steel and acoustic strumming to the fore, with the aid of a bluesy chorus blend really well. Let’s Do It Again is a little more up-tempo, about being scared of doing something a little scary again. Ode To The Past looks at toxic relationships and has a gloriously infectious chorus that’s an album highlight. Superb.
Best track, though, goes to Suicide Love, a song about a doomed relationship, but has some gorgeous bluesy playing and another tune to die for. Very impressive. There’s a dark and broody start to Fist Fight as distorted guitar mixes with a spooky soundscape, as the song broadens out to an almost sing-along tune. By the end, this mix of sing-along chorus and edgy guitar creates quite an effect. Ash To Ash is all about saying goodbye, and again, Mayes cleverly combines an acoustic core with some lovely grungy electric guitar playing.
This is a fascinating album, where Mayes’s rock back history perfectly blends with his goal of making an acoustic-style americana album. The playing throughout is exemplary, and the songwriting very strong. It’ll be fascinating to know where Mayes goes next. Wherever that may be, it’ll be worth investigating. Great stuff.
