Michael Ballew

Rodeo Cool

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(Soul Of The Heart) Michael Ballew is one of Texas' best kept secrets. Born and raised in the farmlands of north Texas, at this point in his life, he's no spring chicken. He's what's called "a lifer" in the music biz, and has been kicking around for years. He did a brief stint in California, then returned to Texas and settled in Austin, where he's well respected among his peers and has gained Nashville's interest in his well written songs.

He's put out 2 albums and 6 CDs, and is 100% authentic country music.

 

Rodeo Cool is an overview of his work, and contains tracks from his previous work as well as new material. In keeping with his Texas roots, there's plenty of steel guitar, fiddle and piano to perfectly accent his songs that run the gamut of dancehalls, rodeos, honky tonks, Texas gals, cheatin' and "damn ol' beer".

 

"Boot Scootin' ", "Darkside Of The Dancehall", and "Tears All Over Town" are great honky tonk shuffles. "Glenda Pearl" is a flat out country picker. "Cheatin' " is a knee slapping, all out country song about "c-h-e-a-t-i-n". "Damn Ol' Beer" is a high sprited rollicking ode to, well, damn old beer. "All Alone In San Antone" has a bluesy feel to it. "I Can't Do That Anymore", about a guy who just can't party like he used to, and "Living In Limbo", about a man waiting for a woman to make up her mind about him, are two Tex-Mex romps. "Top Of The World"  and "Nothing On Me (But You) are two classic "tear in your beer", honky tonk weepers. The heart tugging "Tiny Toes, Tiny Fingers" is a father's resignation that his little girl's all grown up. "Rodeo Cool" tells the tale of a "studly", love 'em and leave 'em, rodeo cowboy.

 

Excellent songwriting, 100% honky tonk, and with a band called Damn Good Texas Band, you can't get much more country than Michael Ballew.

 

To find out more about Michael, visit his website at www.michaelballew.com

AnnMarie Harrington Take Country Back April 2002