By Ken Paulson —
Americana Music News – Continuing its steady climb on the Americana music radio charts, the BoDeans’ American Made moves into the top 30 this week.
It’s a pivotal album for the veteran band, marking Sam Llanas’ departure and leaving Kurt Neumann front and center. Disruptive personnel moves, particularly those involving founders and songwriters, have sunk many bands, but American Made suggests rejuvenation.
It’s a well-crafted and consistent album, ranging from buoyant opener “All the World” to “Chemical,” a stark look at substance dependency.
“Jay Leno” is an oddly-titled, but compelling song about the abduction and murder of a young girl in Milwaukee when Neumann was a child.
“American” is the only miscue, populated by characters with a double-wide trailer, six-pack and Powerball ticket and a “good old man” whose farm is turned into a shopping mall. The liner notes say this has something to do with the need for more common sense in America, but that message doesn’t surface.
Toss in a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m On Fire” and you have a solid outing from a revitalized BoDeans, with good things still ahead.
Follow Americana Music News on Twitter at @sun209com.
1 comment for “Review: The BoDeans’ “American Made””