(Old Pueblo Sounds) Arizona native Troy Olsen, returns with his recently released sophomore album, the self titled, Troy Olsen. This time around, Troy co-produces along with Robert John Jones and long time friend and collaborator, Teddy Morgan. He's backed in the studio by a tight band of core musicians: Teddy Morgan (electric, baritone guitars, moog), Jeff King (electric, baritone, acoustic guitars), Paul Leim (drums), Allison Prestwood (bass), Mike Johnson (steel guitar), Rob Hajacos (fiddle), John Hobbs (piano, keyboards), Larry Beaird (banjo) and Jonathan Yudkin (mandolin). Adding additional contributions are Ken Coomer, Dave Roe, Ray Kennedy, Bryan Sutton, John Wesley Riles, Harry Stinson and Bobby Ritchie (aka/Kid Rock). Along with vocals, Troy provides acoustic guitar and co-wrote 9 of the 12 tracks.

Troy Olsen differs from his debut album in the respect that it's doesn't rely on the same shuffling-Bakersfield influenced sound. Troy still delivers plenty of honky tonk, but he also provides some edgier songs that are closer in sound to "Trying To Find Love" off his debut. Case in point, the album opens with a new version of "The Hank Song," which appeared on Living In Your World. Troy picks up the tempo from it's original loping chug-a-long beat, kicks up the guitars, adds some killer steel and fiddle licks and transforms it into a smokin' roadhouse honky tonker. "She's Gonna Ruin My Bad Reputation" is a terrific two-stepper that incorporates a clever waltzing tempo change that sets it apart and adds to the fun. "I've Still Got My Truck" is another strongly written song that incorporates tempo change. It starts out as a mournful ballad about the end of a relationship that finds the character left with nothing but his truck, that segues into an uptempo two-stepper that looks on the bright side- that old truck is his most prized possession and with it, comes the prospect of starting over. Troy delivers a standout cover of Vern Godsin's barroom classic, "Set 'Em Up Joe." Weeping steel highlights the aching ballad of life on the road in "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead."

Among the edgier material is the outstanding Billy Yates co-penned "You're The One," a mid-tempo kiss off to a rival. Bruce Springsteen songs always seem to translate extremely well when crossed over to the country genre. Troy takes on the steamy "I'm On Fire," and delivers a song filled with as much raw passion, sexual tension and longing as the original, with steel and fiddle adding a lonely, yet desperate depth to the longing. The jangley country-rocker "Somethin' In The Air," is filled with the exuberance of how being on stage and just playing the music feels. The tale of trying to outrun the past and put distance between himself  and a lost love is offered up as a blazing roadhouse rocker in "It's A Long Way Across Texas." Kid Rock drops in to team with Troy on the funky, southern rocker "Rock This Honky Tonk," a pure party song that has a slight Waylon groove to it. (Hey, drop those eyebrows- as unlikely as this pairing sounds, and yeah ok, The Kid seems like he's competing with Willie for the 'duet' title these days, it really does work well). Troy rounds out the album with a couple of songs on the bluesy side. " '59 Cadillac" is a terrific blues-rocker with a sexy, pulsating beat and the outstanding "Price I Pay" delivers some grinding, down and dirty roadhouse blues in this tale of being mistreated by a lover.

Although not as traditionally honky tonk as Living In Your World, his latest effort has more of a honky tonk-roadhouse feel to it. Troy Olsen kicks things up and showcases his diversity. It's harder around the edges, the pace is faster and looser, the sound fuller and better produced, but it's still packed with well written songs and plenty of superbly played fiddle and steel. And Troy continues to prove he's a strong vocalist and no one trick pony, handling barroom honky tonkers, aching ballads, roadhouse rockers and gritty blues with equal ease and authority. Troy Olsen's delivered an outstanding follow up to his debut and despite a more diverse sound, should nonetheless appeal to hard core honky tonkers.  

Standout Tracks: "The Hank Song," "She's Gonna Ruin My Bad Reputation," "You're The One," " '59 Cadillac," "I've Still Got My Truck," "It's A Long Way Across Texas," "I'm On Fire," "Price I Pay"

On The Net: www.troyolsen.com

AnnMarie Harrington TakeCountryBack October 2004

Read TCB's review of Troy's previous album, Living In Your World: http://www.takecountryback.com/reviews/torev0102.htm