Search - Blue Dogs :: Halos & Good Buys

Southern roots rock with country edgings

hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 04/05/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For a band with such a solid history - seventeen years together and eight albums (including two live releases) - it's surprising that this South Carolina group has yet to break out on a national label. Perhaps there are a lot of undiscovered combos like this, plying their trade in local clubs and on regional tours, but rarely do they issue recordings of such quality and polish. The band cooks with Southern rock energy, but edges their work with country and bluegrass touches - mandolin here, homey lyrics there - that elevate this well beyond the typical bar band.The roots rock foundation - think Mellencamp (whose one-time producer Don Gehman helped shape this) and Springsteen with the Southern edge of Lynyrd Skynyrd or The Outlaws. Vocalist Bobby Houck has the sort of raspy power that fits mid-tempo ballads like "Janie and Me" to a tee, and the band's guitar-bass-drums backings are nicely augmented with tight harmonies and mandolin flourishes. It's the sound of a solid rock band taking on some of the country sounds of Nashville - an ever more successful direction than the typical Nashville country band's crossover into pop and rock.This album should just as easily please the No Depression crowd as it does MOR radio stations that play Hootie & The Blowfish or John Mellencamp. Perhaps it's too upbeat for the former, and too twangy for the latter, which would be a shame, because it's incredibly tuneful, it rocks, and it has a down home heart and soul. For anyone unfamiliar with the band, this is sure to be one of 2004's unexpected surprises."

Excellent.

Christopher Glenn | Charleston, SC USA | 03/18/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you're a fan of the Blue Dogs, you already know that they are a very good band. That is, up until the release of Halos & Good Buys. With this release, they will now become a great band and this is the record that's going to make great things happen for this band.My prediction is that this record will be picked up by a major label very soon. There's not a bad song on the entire CD. As a matter of fact, every song on here is outstanding. If you're a fan of rock, country, folk, etc, you won't be disappointed with this effot. It far surpasses even my greatest expectation. Buy it and sit back and enjoy it!"

Down Home Goodness from the Blue Dogs

Christopher Glenn | 03/10/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While the Blue Dogs have rarely made a bad album, at least in my humble opinion, the band's latest "Halos and Good Buys," is the best collection of songs yet. Almost every song on the CD stands on its own, from the catchy "What's Wrong with Love Songs," to the clever "Cosmic Cowboy," to the beautiful "My Forever You."
Legendary producer Don Gehman (John Mellencamp's "American Fool", Hootie & the Blowfish's "Cracked Rear View") produced the CD, and like those two huge albums, I predict that "Halos and Good Buys" will be the album that finally catipults the Blue Dogs to stardom. If you are familiar with the band already, then you know you want this CD. If you've never heard of the band, then take a chance and check them out, especially if you like a good combination of country, rock and bluegrass."