(Dualtone) Although Roger Creager knew by the time he was six years old that country music was in his blood, he also played it safe and went to college where he earned degrees in business and agriculture. He worked for a few years as an accountant in Houston before deciding to pursue his music, and headed back to College Station. His first gig was in 1996, playing piano with a cover band. When his friend, drummer Justin Pollard, left to join Pat Green's band, Roger decided he needed to make his own music, his own way. He'd been singing since his teens, but only started working on songwriting since college. It wasn't until he was 26 that he began performing his own material. He gained confidence performing his own songs that eventually resulted in his first two albums, Having Fun All Wrong, which spawned the hits "Having Fun all Wrong" and "Love," and features the Texas Country Music anthem, "Everclear." His follow up album, I Got the Guns, proved to be an immediate success and debuted at #1 on the Lone Star Music Charts. Both albums show Roger's distinctive twist on traditional country music, and he was rewarded by being named the 'Entertainer of the Year' at the 2001 Texas Music Awards.

Roger finally delivers his long awaited new release, Long Way To Mexico. Produced by Lloyd Maines, Roger's backed by his usual band that includes Stormy Cooper (bass), Matt Baker (guitars), Troy Brown (piano), Matt Madearis (drums), Jason Swindol (fiddle, mandolin) and former band member Scott Owen (guitar), along with a long list of guest musicians that include Dennis Ludiker (fiddle), Riley Osborne (piano, 3-B organ, Wurlitzer), Jessica Murray (harmony vocals) and Lloyd Maines (lap & pedal steel, assorted guitars, dobro, mandolin, etc.). Long Way To Mexico is also a bit of a departure for Roger, as he explores some different sounds and co-wrote several of the songs with such songwriting talent that includes John Evans, Kevin Fowler, Gary Nicholson, Kyle Hutton, Radney Foster, Clay Blaker and Jeremy Elliott.

Long Way To Mexico opens up with "Good Old Days," an uptempo ode to living in, and appreciating, the present. Roger delivers a terrific cover of Billy Joe Shaver's "Love Is So Sweet," which includes a tip of the hat to Waylon by incorporating his trademark pounding guitar/rhythm lines. Some fun is on tap with "Shreveport To New Orleans," a snazzy ragtime-jazz/swing tune, co-written with Kevin Fowler who also contributes duet vocals. Roger offers up some of his most animated vocals on the uptempo bluesy, shuffle "Some Get Rich," lamenting how some folks just never seem to win. A smokey lounge-shuffle featuring Radney Foster on duet vocals, "I Say When I Drink What I Think When I'm Sober," is a witty and amusing look at what can happen after a few too many. The uptempo "Love Is Crazy" is a joyous celebration to the unpredictability of love.

The outstanding title track, "Long Way To Mexico" adds an infectious accordian driven polka beat to the melody in this tale about heading to Mexico in search of the good life. A real highlight is the powerful "Gypsyland," with it's uptempo, yet haunting Latin beat. Here Roger's vocals perfectly convey the anguish and desperation of a man who wants to settle down with the woman he loves, but he's driven by something deep inside that won't let him.

Roger's particularly strong on the disc's ballads. He delivers a standout take on the ClayBlaker/Tommy Connors penned heartbreaker "For The Sake Of A Song," that achingly reflects on love that was sacrificed over the years in the pursuit of a dream. Another standout is "Delicacy Of A Rose," co-written with Clay Blaker, which tells the poignant and sorrowful tale of a young girl's loss of innocence that turns into a life of heartache and pain. "Waiting On You" looks at a man filled with overwhelming pain finding someone who can see him through it. The disc closes with a terrific bluesy ballad "Late Night Case Of The Blues," that has Roger offering up a range of emotion- sadness, loneliness, frustration, anger, heartache and pain.

Roger Creager delivers a few surprises on Long Way To Mexico, and welcome surprises they are. His collaborative efforts provide him the chance to expand on his sound which remains firmly rooted in fiddle and steel drenched traditional country, his songwriting is as sharp as ever, and his vocals easily and convincingly convey emotions that run the gamut between lighthearted fun to tender and heartbreaking. Long Way To Mexico is Roger's strongest release yet, and should be the one to raise his profile substantially.                

www.rogercreager.com

AnnMarie Harrington TakeCountryBack September 2003