Album Review Roundup: Ronnie Milsap, Ricky Skaggs, Styx, The Red Button

Artist: Ronnie Milsap
Title: Country Again
Worth buying: Yes
You might be interested in this CD if you like: Jimmy Wayne, George Jones, Glen Campbell, Charley Pride

Tell Me More: Since Ronnie Milsap's music doesn’t get played much on terrestrial radio these days, some people are more apt to recall his recent collaborations with James Otto (“Good Thing’s Gone Bad”) or Trace Adkins (“My First Ride”) than works from the 2000s. Others will immediately recognize the name of this country hitmaker, whose recording career dates back to late ‘60s session work for Elvis Presley.
On Milsap’s first country album in five years, the singer/keyboardist goes “old school.” The result is a comfortable, timeless sound that could’ve easily come out in the 1960s-70s. Milsap still excels at sad ballads (“A Better Word For Love,” “On My Own”), while a few songs recall Owen Bradley’s classic Nashville sound (“Cry Cry Darling," Bobby Darin’s “You’re the Reason I’m Living”), complete with smooth female backing vocals. There are also fun, uptempo tunes (the brass-filled “Oh Linda,” frisky tone of “Fireworks,” “If You Don’t Want Me To” - also known as “The Freeze,” containing an ‘80s pop vibe a la Robbie Dupree).
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George A. Paul

Artist: Ricky Skaggs
Title: Country Hits: Bluegrass Style
Worth buying: Yes
You might be interested in this CD if you like: The Grascals, Alison Krauss, Vince Gill, Skaggs’ 1980s work
Tell Me More: For more than two decades, Ricky Skaggs has been one of the most accomplished practitioners of bluegrass music. So giving his old hits that genre treatment makes perfect sense. A majority of the selections will be familiar to longtime fans, having reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Singles chart. Purists might scoff because the sound isn’t entirely acoustic and doesn’t veer too far from the original arrangements. But longtime band Kentucky Thunder does an excellent job as usual backing up Skaggs, who plays multiple instruments here.
Standouts from the multiple Grammy winner include “Heartbroke” and “Honey (Open That Door)” - among many spotlighting that famous "high lonesome" vocal sound, “Lovin’ Only Me,” featuring extended twangy soloing, “Country Boy,” driven by fast-fingered fretwork and “Cajun Moon.” The piano-led version of Flatt & Scruggs’ Don’t Get Above Your Raising” works well. Gentle closing track “Somebody’s Prayin,’" featuring the Nashville String Ensemble, is more in line with Skaggs' 2010 gospel effort “Mosaic” though and doesn’t fit the bluegrass mold.
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George A. Paul

Artist: Styx

Title: Regeneration, Volume I & II

Worth buying: Yes

You will be interested if you are a fan of: Styx, Damn Yankees, Night Ranger

Tell Me More: Released in September 2011, Regeneration, Volume I & II is a two-disc collection that features newly-recorded versions of many of the band's best-known songs as well as covers of several Damn Yankees tunes (remember Tommy Shaw was a member of that '90s supergroup) and even a new song titled "Difference In The World" that is a strong sonic fit with the familiar stuff.

Up until recently, Regeneration was only available at Styx' concerts. Highlights on the collection include a stellar "Crystal Ball" (which features dazzling guitar work and emotive vocals courtesy of the aforementioned Shaw), a rocking "Blue Collar Man," and truly-epic "Coming of Age." It is hard to believe, but the 2011 version of Styx has been together than any other line-up of the band; that said, it's not hard to see hear how Regeneration, Volume I & II finds Shaw, James "JY" Young, Chuck Panozzo, Lawrence Gowan, Ricky Phillips and Todd Sucherman delivering the goods in full. "Come Sail Away," indeed.

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Robert Kinsler

 

Artist: The Red Button

Title: As Far As Yesterday Goes

Worth buying: Yes

You will be interested if you are a fan of: The Beatles, Fountains of Wayne, Nick Lowe, Seth Swirsky's "Watercolor Day"

Tell Me More: Anyone who has ever wondered if it's possible for a modern-day artist to write and perform original music in sync with the sound and style of the early Beatles, wonder no more. Instead, grab a copy of the Red Button's wonderful sophomore effort, As Far As Yesterday Goes. The latest disc from the Los Angles-based duo (Seth Swirsky, Mike Ruekberg), the 12-song "As Far As Yesterday Goes" boasts infectious rockers ("Caught in the Middle," "I Can't Forget"), power pop jewels ("On A Summer Day," "Girl, Don't") and tender ballads (the piano-anchored "Picture"). All of the cuts feature strong vocals, solid musicianship and smart arrangements that recall the magic of the Fab Four. And for those who additionally wonder what had happened if John, Paul, George and Ringo had performed into the 1970s, my money is on the last two songs featured on the disc; the jazz-tinged "Genevieve" mines a bit of Sir Paul's WINGS territory while the folk-rock gem "Running Away" conjures up John Lennon's confessional solo work.

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Robert Kinsler