Houston - Desperate Man

From it unusual ghostly cover art, to it's angst riddled lyrics. Houston Marchman's "Desperate Man" left this listener wanting even more with his third studio release. More tracks filled with great lyrics and powerful vocals. It seems I can never get my fill of Houston's style. This CD will definitely by in my top 5 for the year.

With powerful lyrics and a moving beat Houston open's up with " $2.00 Pistol". This cut is as much a trademark of Houston's music as you can get. A betrayal of life of a man defending his honor and where the line of life's justice and criminal justice never seem to cross.

"Midnight" is a good song of a trucker fighting the road and loneliness. Pappy Middleton adds the sounds of a harp on this cut as Houston raspy vocals paint the picture of a gypsy trucker looking for love.

One of my favorites on this CD is "Suzanne". Another song of being on the road. This song is sung with heartfelt feeling and makes me think Houston is touching someone in particular with this not quite a ballad but a great song nonetheless.

"Sweet Love" is a nice soft almost ballad. Great harmonies and acoustic guitar make this a nice one for when the lights are down. I like the way he put this cut right after Suzanne, it just feels right there.

The title cut "Desperate Man" is great. The story it tell is riddled with lines of growing up with a hard life while trying to gain the love of a father. Then realizing finding any true love is hard when your a desperate man. A driving beat really put the exclamation point into your soul.

"Broken Glass" is a beautiful song of a woman trying to deal with her guilt while looking for love at a young age. Houston's lyrics paint the picture in fine detail.

Woody Woodruff fans will appreciate his playing on "Hey Senorita" With Heather Woodrull on fiddle this tune cries for the dark Spanish eyes senorita. Houston's vocals are the best on this cut. The band is tight with Woody leading the way with some of the finest Spanish guitar I've heard in a long time. Makes you wonder why Woody's not playing lead somewhere.

"San Miguel" another song with Woody Woodruff playing lead, however Eleanor Whitmore takes over and does a nice job on fiddle, as usual. Houston does well with this Spanish love song and band carry us away to Mexico with reverb and flaminco style guitar (Thanks Woody). Lynn Adler adds great accompany vocals in just the right places.

Another of my favorites is "Satellite" Another truck drivin, road huggin song about lonliness and love. Houston delivers in his raspy angst voice that you just have to admire.

"Come On Baby" is a vocal gem. Sung with power yet grace, it may be on of the best written songs on the CD.

In "Hold Fast", Houston preaches the bible to a young man not much unlike himself.

If Houston Marchman set forth to put out a recording that would draw attention to his songwriting then he has done so in a superb manner.

From lines like : "The devil holds the reigns, on the horse they call cocaine" and one of my favorites: "That boy I shot grew up with a silver spoon/While his mama tucked him in, mine was stoned on gin/ Howlin' at a big ol' cornbread moon"

While written with incredible attention to detail, the stories are backed with strong musical talents. Houston is a master at getting the right sound to what he hears in his mind onto the track without over producing.

Well done Houston!

Take Country Back February 2003