Family Time
Festival, 2022
8/10
A singer-songwriter who is versed in folk, country, Americana and country sounds, Bobby Cool tracked these songs right before the world shut down in 2020,
“American Dream” starts the listen with flowing and warm guitar playing alongside Cool’s smooth and inviting pipes in the bluegrass friendly, country climate, and “Waffle House” follows with an upbeat spirit that’s got plenty of rural energy amid the glorious pedal steel and punchy drumming that will get you on the dance floor.
Elsewhere, “Waves Of Grain” moves with much intimacy in the poetic delivery that builds into a lush Americana landscape, while “Crazy” remains calm and stirring with Cool’s cozy pipes being complemented by some bluesy guitar and meticulous finger picking.
Closer to the end, “St. Perry Blues” is a fuller display of rootsy flavor that’s breezy, gritty and full of honky tonk fun, and “Battle Of The Lion King” exits the listen richly textured and with swirling guitars present and appreciated.
It’s not hard to think of Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Don McClean or Chris Stapleton when listening to these tunes, which could never be a bad thing, as Cool’s diverse country-rock makes an impression with each well thought out track.
Travels well with: Jeremy Garrett- River Wild; The Alex Leach Band- I’m Happiest When I’m Moving