Reckless Kelly - Bulletproof '2008

Tracks list

Tracklist

01. Ragged As the Road
02. You Don't Have to Stay Forever
03. Love in Her Eyes
04. Passin' Through
05. Never Had a Chance
06. One False Move
07. A Guy Like Me
08. American Blood
09. How Was California?
10. Mirage
11. Don't Say Goodbye
12. God Forsaken Town
13. Wandering Eye
14. Bulletproof

Steve Earle got slagged off in the country music press for his hard rocking,
latter-day MCA offerings Copperhead Road and The Hard Way. He's been vindicated
in numerous ways over the years; last but not least is the way contemporary
country music has moved toward embracing the big guitars and drum sounds of
1970s heartland rock in the 21st century. Reckless Kelly, from Earle's home
state of Texas, seemed to get the rougher rock & roll aspect of Earle's brand of
country from the word go. Beginning with Millican in 1998, RK have blazed a
trail and created a trademark brand of road-screaming country-rock music that's
big on loud guitars, clean popping drums, and tremendously hooky songs. Released
in 2008, Bulletproof is Reckless Kelly's standout and apparently the set that
puts their name on the wider map. Despite some of its left-leaning lyrics in a
highly charged political climate, the band will not be denied its video being
screened by GAC and the album entering at number two on Billboard's Heatseekers
chart, number 22 on its Country chart, and number 117 on its Top 200 chart. The
world of RK - the band is fronted by guitarist and chief songwriter Willy Braun
with brother Cody singing harmony and playing mandolin, fiddle, and harmonica;
David Abeyta on lead guitar and lap steel; bassist Jimmy McFeely; and Jay Nazz
on drums -- revolves around endless roads inside an America where everything
begins to look more desperately the same ("How Was California?" and "God
Forsaken Town"). People end up endlessly disappointed and frustrated when
encountering the paradox of who their nation says they are and what the nation
is in and of itself ("American Blood").
In the midst of all the collective ennui and dislocation is a belief in and
desire for love and community that is honest, passionate, and sometimes
overreaching - even if the protagonist has no idea how to define it, he knows it
when he sees, or rather, feels it. Check "A Guy Like Me," "Love in Her Eyes,"
"You Don't Have to Stay Forever," and the truly devastating title track that
closes the album. Add to this that Braun's songs are full of ragged, jagged,
edgy hooks and dirty-sounding guitars that match the rough-and-tumble gravel in
his voice, and what you have is the record that elder statesmen like John
Mellencamp and Earle, who inspired this music, would love to make, but have
weathered too many storms and acquired too much discerning wisdom of age to pull
it off now. In fact, the only act that comes close to realizing this depth of
feeling and sometimes dangerous honesty is Arizona's Roger Clyne & the
Peacemakers. This set speaks to a generation that loves to have good times but
feels like those times may be, to paraphrase Merle Haggard, really over for
good. Bulletproof doesn't have to reach for the brass ring, because it's been
tarnished; instead, it reaches for whatever is there - the open highway, the
closest thing to companionship and community it can find -- and with a keen
skeptic's eye toward promises that have proven empty. All killer, no filler,
Bulletproof is Reckless Kelly's masterpiece thus far. And thus far, Nash Vegas
hasn't been able to deny these Austin upstarts, because the music transcends its
censorious boundaries. Let's hope that continues.



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