Texas Album: “Ricks Road”

If Music from Big Pink by The Band was your bag, this rock collection recorded in the same place and named after the street it's on is for you. I obtained a European version of the CD a full year before its American release, and it still has a place in my car's CD-changer. Ellen DeGeneris made So Called Friend a TV anthem, while You Owe It All To Me has the life-affirmance that Alanis Morrissette's You Oughta Know replaces with lewd images, four letter words, and a scene from Fatal Attraction. I Want to Go to Heaven is worthy Mississippi Delta Blues, while I'm So In Love With You is a wedding first-dance of aching power. You can hear the back side of their first album Southside in Fearing These Days. First note to the last chord, this album is the pinnacle of achievement.

Texas definitely get kudos for evolving as a band over the years. Still though, Ricks Road noses out White on Blonde as my personal favorite.

The last release of the more rock/blues side of the band, this CD is Southside with muscle. Sharleen's voice is really outstanding, it's no wonder they made the transition to different styles so seamlessly. Great tracks include the uptempo "So Called Friend", "Fade Away" and "You Got to Live a Little", the atmospheric "Fearing These Days" which would sound right at home on a Maria McKee record, the slower "Listen To Me" and my favorite, the cover of Al Green's "Tired of Being Alone". "Winter's End" closes things out in fine style.

I was actually fortunate enough to catch Texas live when they supported James in 1994. A terrific show, one that I will always remember.

Despite the critics voices arising on a few specialised websites, this one's a very consistent and significant album, with quite good compositions and an authentic Texas sound deserving to be listened and enjoyed carefully.

Sharleen's voice is amazing, reching highs and lows majestically. Also, music instrumentation is quite organic, intimate, folkie, hooking.

this is a Texas album that probably we will never hear again, according to what I heard from their new album (careful what you wish for), which is just prolonguing the path signed by their previous albums (hush and white on blonde), i.e. a pop record. But forget now about it, Ricks road is a nicely done rock/blues album, Shar shows once again that she has a gifted voice, and the band is at their best probably, sounding very tight and confident, thay all seemed to be having a great time when recording this one.

Every track here is a winner, no wonder why Amazon has to re stock this one very often, people just keep buying it.