Buzz Cason & Sons: 2020
Arena, 2020
8/10
Listen to Buzz Cason & Sons: 2020
The legendary Father of Nashville Rock, Buzz Cason returns with 11 new recordings, where his musical offspring, Parker and Taylor, help him flesh out the type of song craft that can’t fit easily into any timeframe or genre.
“Montana” starts the album with retro-rock fun where acoustic guitars and smooth vocals are surrounded by spirited riffage and a classic atmosphere, and “Why” continues the soothing environment with elegant vocals as the dynamic chemistry from his sons shines through.
Near the middle, “Teardown Anthology” recruits harmonica in the grittier approach of precise guitar and warm rhythm, while “Hardscuffle” makes even better use of the harmonica with a bit of country flavor. “Let Me Be”, one of the album’s best, then stays bare with a poetic quality to the universal folk beauty that transcends time.
At the end, the exceptional saxophone of “Soldier Of Love”, a tune covered by many household names, adds a bit of elegance to the sublime climate that gets soulful, and “Touch Me” finishes the listen on the softer side of the equation where Cason’s incredible songwriting seems as potent now as it did 5 decades ago.
A record that’s as fun to listen to as it was to make, there’s a reason why legends like Pearl Jam, The Beatles and Dolly Parton have all recorded songs by Cason, who had his first hit in 1960, and at 80 shows no signs of slowing down with this exceptional record.
Travels well with: Donnie Fritts- Oh My Goodness; Jesse Dayton- The Outsider