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Mike Barfield: Living Stereo |
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 (Tater Tot Records) Mike Barfield's usual
gig is fronting the Houston based country/rockabilly band, The
Hollisters. With The Hollisters, Mikes vocals usually evokes echoes of
Johnny Cash, and even at times, Elvis and Buddy Holly. On Living
Stereo, he decides to step out and stretch his wings a bit, with
a disc full of greasy, funky soul, twangy blues, and even a bit of
lounge crooner, mixed in with a few trademark country tracks, that
reach back to a decidedly 50's sound. To help out on this solo effort,
Mike enlists the aid of ace guitarist Nick Curran, Jim Christie on
drums, and background singing by The Gospel Motions.
Living Stereo opens with the
funky, R&B/rockabilly "Twist It," wherein he let's everybody know what
it is he likes about his baby. Mike takes the classic blues route on
"I've Been Abused." Out pops the crooner (a la Bobby Darin) on the
jazzy, swinging "You're Driving Me Crazy," that really showcases just
how strong a vocalist Mike is, and shows off his ability at some
pretty terrific phrasing, making this one of the disc's highlights.
Mike then shifts back to his country roots
with "Look At Me," a shuffling, mid-tempo lament about being done
wrong by someone that doesn't care. "Confession Time" is a honky
honker about it being time to lay all the cards on the table to decide
if it's finally time to call it quits.
Next up is a swing over to some funky R&B, with
"Cramp Your Style." Another outstanding track is "Ask My Baby," where
Mike veers off into soul territory. This one starts off with a funky
rhythm line, reminiscent of The Blues Brothers, then in comes Mike
with some strong soulful vocals, and he veers off once again as the
song ends in a gospel rave up, complete with backing choir. On
"Tomorrow Night," Mike conjures up his best "Elvis" imagery, and
croons a dreamy ballad that falls somewhere in the realm of
traditional pop and country- or countrypolitan as it was called
(though minus the strings and overproduction).
"You Got What It Takes" offers up some
greasy, southern fried R&B, with some terrific harmonica and guitar
licks. "Can I Change My Mind" is another standout, a really
strong soul tune, where again Mike's vocals really shine, with an
infectious rhythm line, and retro sounding backup "girl singers."
"Lover's Prison" is another shift over to the country side, about a
guy planning to make his escape from a relationship before it's too
late. "She's A Yum Yum" is some purely infectious, funky, R&B fun.
Mike cuts loose on the disc closer, the James Brown-esque "Signed,
Sealed And Delivered."
While Living Stereo is most
assuredly not the Mike Barfield most Hollisters fans are used to
hearing, it succeeds in showing his great versatility as an artist
that has plenty of talent to spare, and can take on other styles of
music with ease, and make them work remarkably well. Though all the
songs on Living Stereo aren't "country," in the end, Mike
still somehow manages to make them all sound distinctly "Made In
T-e-x-a-s," and has made an album that may be something a
little different, but one that's definitely fun and impossible to sit
still to.
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AnnMarie
Harrington Take Country Back September 2002