The six-piece band from Montreal offer an authentic representation of the pioneering country-rock style along with a heapin’ helpin’ of Southern soul to forge a truly original Americana roots sound.
Country-rock godfather Gram Parsons’ greatest achievement was never the marriage of traditional country music with rock ‘n’ roll. The fact is he never liked rock ‘n’ roll. He was stone country. But what he did succeed in doing was bring country music together with R ‘n’ B music on tracks like “You Don’t Miss Your Water”, “Do Right Woman” and “Dark End Of The Street”. That is his greatest accomplishment, often lost in the endless retelling of his legacy.
But while Parsons never got to pursue that goal further, Steel Saddle have picked up the mantle and succeeded in merging the two music forms together. Tracks like “Angelina”, “Big Yellow Dog”, “Free in the Morning” and “Steel Saddle” pack a country soul punch while “Donny the Satanist” and “Travelin’ Light” kick ass. Somebody buy that pedal steel guitar player a drink! “Can’t Be Satisfied” and “It’s My Time” are heartbreaking ballads in the finest tear-in-your-beer country tradition. And did I mention the terrific singing and harmonies?
As someone who has written extensively on the roots of country rock, this is a superb album true to its roots but with an updated sound and direction all its own. Well done, boys.
- John Einarson is the author of more than 20 books including Desperados: The Roots Of Country Rock, Hot Burritos: The True Story of The Flying Burrito Brothers with Chris Hillman, and Four Strong Winds: Ian & Sylvia.