The disc opens with "Everybody Knows," which is a thumping, lighthearted tune with a combination alt-rock/rockabilly sound, Kevin Daly's hot guitar and strong vocals, and the sound that proves all you really need is four guys who can play to make great music, even lighthearted love songs such as this.  But light as it may be, it shows Daly's gift for wordplay, and reminds me somewhat of another native Arizona group, the late lamented Refreshments.        

The magnificent title track, also written by Daly, is dark, eerie, a strongly-sung story song in the tradition of past cowboy story songs such as "Streets of Laredo" and "El Paso."  With haunting fiddle added by Connie Gregory, the tale carries us back to the grim days of range wars and justice by the gun.  (A quick footnote to the history itself - the liner notes show the Trophy Husbands are apparently Graham supporters and claim that the Tewksburys were guilty of bringing sheep to the cattle range of Pleasant Valley - but records turned up in Prescott show that the Tewksburys were accused of rustling cattle belonging to Graham and cattle baron James Stinson - an accusation from which Prescott juries acquitted the Tewksburys, who were in fact the older family in the area, and who had accepted the newcomer Grahams into their homes on their arrival.  Ed Tewksbury and Tom Graham had even gone into business together and jointly owned cattle which may have been stolen by Tom's older brother John and Stinson.  But enough of that.)        

The Trophy Husbands continue with their western-campfire song sound with "Willie," another story song from the pen of band member Dave Insley.  Insley is every bit as capable of turning out fine lyrical form as partner Daly.  "I did not do this to hurt you, my intentions they are sincere.  Put my finger on the trigger and kiss goodbye my fears."  Then the disc takes up that twist of humor that made these guys so much fun live, as the guys rockabilly into "Cadillac," an ode to that beautiful, overpriced yacht of the open road.        

All the songs on "Dark and Bloody Ground" were written by either Daly or Insley, except for the humorous Dave Dudley-esque truckin' song,  "Big Wheel," written by Ray King, and the growling, gritty, not-entirely-serious yarn, "Cowboy Justice," by Chris Little.  It's a real trick trying to decide which of the two, Daly or Insley, is the more cunning and crafty with his lyrics.  In Daly's "She Don't Love You," his warm-blanket voice caresses the harshness of the message, "She don't love you, not a bit.  Get used to it.  She don't love you, it's a fact.  She's gone, and won't be back."  Then Insley comes back with a new song under a classic title, "Just Call Me Lonesome," where he tells us, "My baby done left me.  Before she did, she burned down the house then run off with some kid.  They sent me a postcard from Florida.  I hope a crocodile eats 'em both alive."  You just can't kick him while he's down and tell him there are no crocodiles in Florida, just alligators.  "Just call me lonesome from now on.  Don't you care that I'm sorry for everything that I've done?  Well I'm nobody's no one and I wander alone.  Just call me lonesome from now on."        

With "Up and Gone," Daly gives us a romp with some sturdy bass thumping, then comes back to the western story song with a plaintive cry from the lonesome fugitive, "Until Then," a gunman's regret without apology: "Man must live as he sees fit.  I made my choices, this is it.  Until they murder me and spit upon my grave, I'll be a black heart even Jesus wouldn't save.  They always told me I would meet a bitter end.  It's too late to change until then."        

Insley answers this in the same theme with "Skellys 1975," an absolutely beautiful, sorrow-dripping ballad where a boy who committed a murder realizes his black path leads to hell and his cry for forgiveness.  "Please pray for me Sweet Jesus, can't you see that I'm sorry now?  I want to be forgiven but you see I don't think I know how.  Please pray for me sweet Mother, I beg you to forgive me of my sin.  My life has been a failure, I wish that I could somehow start again."  It's a haunting, eerie melody, lurking at the edge of fear, reminding me somehow of the tales Bob Dylan told in the songs on "Desire."        

The disc wraps up musically with a final Daly track, some laughter and talking from the band leading into a bouncy, ground-thumping salute to the "Texas Wind," which even an Arizona group can't avoid.  "The wind will never hesitate, the wind is always strong; the wind will never hesitate, the wind is never wrong."        

One more treat for Arizona and Old West history buffs, the cover and interior art for the CD are watercolors by Arizona historian/artist/cartoonist/commentator, Bob Boze Bell. Boze has been greatly missed since he was chased from the radio airwaves about five years ago and he is currently one of the editors on "True West" magazine.  Nice to see local talent supporting each other.        

All in all, I wholeheartedly recommend this disc.  The Trophy Husbands are dripping with real talent, particularly in the song writing department, and while their music is hard to define, its simple power and  awesome lyrics make it, pardon the quote, "just good music."  And since it  is "just good music," go find it.  Check them out.  Enjoy them at the base  level of old-time western folk and "too country for country"-style country.  They do a great live show, too.

Kathy Coleman Take Country Back July 2002