(Smith Music Group) Somewhere In The Middle is Oklahoma's Jason Boland (lead vocals, guitar and chief songwriter) & The Stragglers' who's members are Brad Rice (drums, harmony vocals), Grant Tracy (bass) and Roger Ray (electric and steel guitars) third studio album. For their latest release, the band returned to Lloyd Maines who produced their acclaimed debut Pearl Snaps and who also contributes on acoustic guitar. Also joining them in the studio are ace musicians Riley Osbourn, Dennis Ludiker, John Michael Whitby, Coby Wier, Adam Odor and Noah Jefferies. Stoney LaRue, Kathleen O'Keefe, Randy Crouch, Cody Braun and Billy Joe Shaver drop by to contribute harmony and duet vocals. Jason wrote 8 of the album's 13 songs, one a co-write with fellow Red Dirt cohort Stoney LaRue, and also includes songs penned by Bob Childers, Randy Crouch, Billy Joe Shaver and Aaron Wynne. Always considered a maverick, once again Jason and the band combine that elusive Red Dirt sound with Texas music, creating a unique sound all their own that blurs all lines.

Somewhere In The Middle opens appropriately with a strong fiddle and steel drenched cover of Aaron Wynne's "Hank," a song that's part lament and part defiant kiss off, about the sorry state of the kind of music Nashville currently deems 'country' music. "When I'm Stoned" is a pulsating, outlaw style honky tonker that first showed up on last year's Live At Billy Bob's album and finds a good timing man appreciating his good hearted woman who wouldn't change a thing about him. The band veers off into bluesy roots-rock territory with the title track, "Somewhere In The Middle," a celebration of life smack in the middle of the middle.

They slow things down for a strong mid-tempo ballad, "If You Want To Hear A Love Song," with Kathleen O'Keefe and Stoney LaRue adding some standout harmony vocals, that makes the statement that there's give and take in any relationship, in this case, if you want to be loved, then you have to show love. The band delivers a great cover of Bob Childer's "Back To You," that tells the story of a trucker who's anticipation of getting back home to the woman he loves is what drives him. Another mid-tempo ballad is the reflective "Stand Up To The Man" that encourages people to strive, take chances and play the hand that's dealt them the best they can. 

The band cuts loose and has some fun, giving an old-timey feel to "Radio's Misbehaving," a bluesy shuffle that features some stellar instrumental work, and tells the tale of a guy trying to get over a lost love but can't find a radio station that's not playing a sad song that reminds him of this broken heart. "Dirty Fightin' Love" is a hard hitting, bitter and jaded look at a love gone wrong. A good old fashioned, honky tonk drinking song about drinkin' away your troubles is offered up with a terrific cover of Randy Crouch's "12 Oz. Curls," on which Randy also duets with Jason. 

Another previously unrecorded song that showed up on Live At Billy Bob's is the outstanding "Mary," a soulful ballad of desperation and a plea for help to be saved from the bottle, that's made even stronger by some fine vocal harmony by Kathleen O'Keefe and Cody Braun. "Hell Or Bust" is yet another gem, a dark and haunting spiritual search. Hands down, without a doubt and worth the price of admission all by itself is an absolutely jawdropping cover of Billy Joe Shaver's tale of lost love and regret "Thunderbird Wine," that features Billy Joe himself dueting. They pull out all the stops making it a powerful dusty, western flavored frenzy of blistering guitars, blazing fiddle and commanding vocals. This one demands being turned way up and if you close your eyes, you can picture Eddie smilin' down with great pride, giving this one a big thumbs up. The disc closes out with a hidden track, an acoustic "Hope You Make It" with Randy Crouch on vocals that offers the wish for finding happiness, success and ultimately, salvation.

The first thing I noticed right off, in the 3 years since the release of Truckstop Diaries, Jason's baritone has gotten deeper, and with the grittier, outlaw feel that runs through several of the new songs, he's sounding similar to a young Waylon Jennings. Still shy of 30, Jason Boland has always sung and written beyond his years and with a few more years of maturity and experience under his belt, he continues to evolve as one of the strongest songwriters and vocalist around today. The Stragglers have also been one of the tightest, most talented bands around and they too just get better with time. With Somewhere In The Middle, Jason Boland & The Stragglers continue to prove themselves one of the most talented country outfits that country music today has to offer and turn in yet another first-rate effort.                       

Standout Tracks: "Hank," "If You Want To Hear A Love Song," Radio's Misbehaving," "12 Oz. Curls," "Mary," "Thunderbird Wine," Hell Or Bust"

On The Net: www.thestragglers.com

AnnMarie Harrington TakeCountryBack November 2004