Search - Ed Burleson :: Cold Hard Truth (Dig)

Road music for your pickup truck . . .

Ronald Scheer | Los Angeles | 11/07/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The cold, hard truth is I stopped listening to country some years ago and reverted to Hank Williams, Bill Monroe, and Bob Wills. Now I'm catching up with the country revival, and luck turned me onto Ed Burleson's "Cold Hard Truth." Out of a bunch of CDs I bought lately by new performers I never heard of before, this one is head and shoulders above the rest. I love the energy in these songs, the great musicianship, and the unprocessed sound that takes you back to the good old days.



Burleson's high and tight voice sounds like pure Texas, and the songs are all about tough times, busted hearts, and charging on through no matter what. The opening song, "(Hill Billy Soul and) Honky Tonk Heart," sets the tone for the whole album, of pure fun and orneriness bound to get any man into trouble. And the follower, "All Bucked Up," is a wide-grinning tip of the Stetson to music legend and inspiration, Buck Owens.



There's a quick shift to busted-love songs, "Cold Hard Truth" and "If You Wanna Go Just Go," followed by the mournful "Loneliness (Made Me Do Things I Ain't Proud Of)." This trio is a heart-felt journey through anger, sorrow, and regret, and Burleson sings it like he's been there, for sure.



Other favorites on the album are "Long Distance Love" and the foot-loose anthem "Ramble On." The joy of the album is its embrace of so many different musical styles ranging from roots to Jimmy Buffet. "Dead Skunk" is wonderfully outrageous, and it leads to the rip-roaring, bring-down-the-house finale, "Heartbreak Highway." This CD is on the changer in my car, where it's kept a smile on my face even in the worst traffic.

"

This kicks a**... deserves ten more stars at least!

Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com | ...in Middle America | 01/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Texas honkytonker Ed Burleson is one of the brightest lights on the independent country scene today. This new record is simply flat-out one of the best hard country albums of the year... Heck, of the century (so far!). Sure, Burleson has plenty of rough edges... that's what makes his music so real. He also has a kick-ass band with guys who know how to play country music with real feeling, and a bunch of songs that sound like a real, live human being wrote 'em, not some committee in Nashville. Burleson's other albums have all been really good... this one is really great... his best to date. Highly recommended!"