Derailers

Here Come the Derailers!

The Derailers rise to notoriety sounds suspiciously like the plot of a paperback novel. A couple of friends meet in Oregon. One heads out looking for greener pastures in Austin. After a couple of years he calls back home to his friend, and says 'Hey, the music's great here! Come on down'. The two manage to pick up a a drummer and bass player somewhere along the way, and the quartet makes a career in Texas singing music reminiscent of Buck Owens meets the Beatles. Go figure.

An oversimplified history lesson on the Derailers, no doubt missing out the ups and downs of a band looking for their niche and just the right record label, but as the title of their debut Lucky Dog release suggests, the Derailers are ready to take their music to a wider audience. Although they've been making great music for a few years now on great records such as Reverb Deluxe and Full Western Dress, the move to Sony's farm label, Lucky Dog Records offered them assurances of promotion and exposure that their music unquestionably deserves. Does that mean their music's changed? Heck, no. One listen to the their new CD and your fears will be laid to rest.

Admittedly, looking for a certified radio hit, the Derailers worked overtime making sure that this project, although polished enough to gleam alongside any other mainstream Nashville offering, retains the eclectic musical styling their ever growing fanbase has come to appreciate. Teaming up with veteran producer Kyle Lehning allowed the band to produce a record that'll capture the attention of country music radio without compromising the band's creativity and vision. "The album brings up to a point we've been striving to get to," says Tony Villenueva "We want our music to have a chance in the modern country radio market, and do it with class and quality. That's what our goal has always been."

Class, quality, radio potential is what you get with 'Here Come The Derailers', along with innovativeness we've come to respect and admire. The triple threat of their superb musicianship, tight vocal harmonies and songwriting skills are blatantly evident throughout.

The band's balanced a couple of classic covers (Charlie Rich's 'Mohair Sam', and late R&B legend, Arthur Alexander's 'If It's Really Got to Be This Way') with contributions from some of the industry's best songwriters. The lead cut and single "More Of Your Love" written by veteran songwriter, Kostas, sets the honky-tonk tone.

Country music fans will appreciate the addition of not one, but three memorable songs from Jim Lauderdale, including the rockin', twangin' 'You Guess Is As Good As Mine (co-penned with Derailers Brian Hofeldt and Tony Villenueva). Other Lauderdale contributions are the classic country sound of "I'll Follow You Anywhere', co-penned with the legendary Melba Montgomery, which showcases Villenueva's strong country vocals, and the uptempo Daryl Burgess collaboration "All The Rage In Paris.

The highlights of the album, however, are undoubtedly the songwriting contributions of the band members themselves. Tony Villenueva's solo effort, the twang-laced ballad 'My Angel's Gettin' Tired' is more than memorable and the band shows every country-rock root influence they have with the fun-filled irony of 'Bar Exam'. Brian Hofeldt offers the lead vocals on his self-penned 'I See My Baby', but the ultimate treasure is found smack dab in the middle of the playlist, the playful, guitar laden instrumental, reminiscent of The Ventures, 'Country A Go-Go'.

Don't let the CD title mislead you...this is no introductory CD, its notice that The Derailers have arrived. Their debut effort on Lucky Dog Records is an impressive one, that will undoubtedly please their loyal followers as well as country radio, and is sure to garner them some new fans along the way. With the knack of making the old, new and cool again, the Derailers have arrived in style.

Laurie Joulie Take Country Back September 2001

Stop in and visit The Derailers at their official website: www.derailers.com

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