Search - Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers :: Americano

Paul B. (PABlo) from PITTSBURGH, PA
Reviewed on 10/11/2006...

bonus DVD!

I Don't Need Another Thrill

Kevin L. Nenstiel | Kearney, Nebraska | 01/07/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Listening to this disc for the first time, I was reminded of Creedence Clearwater, Buffalo Springfield, and Tim O'Brien. All in the best way. This band has a similar way of linking together songs that aren't necessarily thematically homogenous, and making them stand up as a unified whole. This collection of twelve originals (there is an unbilled track) rocks along, with a country-fried front porch undertone, both a party time soundtrack and a little something for when you're just chilling.



There are no out-and-out bad tracks on this album. The closest there might be is "Your Name On a Grain of Rice," which rambles a little, but is still quite good. Other tracks, like "Counterclockwise," "Leaky Little Boat," and "God Gave Me a Gun," weave in and out of a guitar rock sounscape that moves from the driving electricity of the title track, through dark reveries like "Switchblade," to the acoustic-based "Leave an Open Door" with scarcely a hiccup.



Not everyone will like this album, but not everyone should. There's an atmosphere to it like two beers and a basket of mozarella sticks with good friends. Gleefully unsophisticated and kickingly friendly, this is music for the kind of people who don't mind lying to the spouse about why you spent an extra hour at the pub with that guy you hope your kids never actually meet.



Some versions of this CD are packed with a DVD about the making of the album. This isn't exactly something you want to watch over and over again, like "Lord of the Rings," but it's a fun insight into the creative process and a peek into the life of the kind of band who deserves more attention than they get, but is happy to play for a core of devoted fans.



If only more albums like this came out for the devoted music lover, there would be no complaints against modern American recording. If you've heard of this disc, you're already ahead of the curve. Pick up a copy and play it loud, and see if you don't feel like there's hope for American music in the early Twenty-first Century."

To The Next Level

Eric KeoskySmith | Phoenix, AZ USA | 02/12/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For fans of the (former) Refreshments or the alive and kicking Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, this album is a welcome, long awaited gift. For those who have never heard the band - live or otherwise - it will take a little getting use to - but you'll find it very much worth your listening pleasure!Rock with a southwest flair and lyrics that run deep is the only way to categorize this album and band. Previously pegged as alt-country, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers (aka RCPM) have really grown to a new dimension on Americano! There are some who will argue - myself included - that this finest of work helps them reach a point in their music that Seeger, Springsteen, Buffet and Petty were at, just prior to being "discovered" by the rest of the country. Yes, it's that good!From the opening explosion of the title song `Americano!", through the hard driving but simple "I Don't Need Another Thrill", and even with the raggee-ish "Leaky Little Boat", the bands lyrics and delivery leave you with both the hope and the despair that sometimes comes with living on either side of our southern borders. But through it all the rich distinctive voice of Clyne spins a yarn as good as any pop lyricist today. Backed by an incredibly tight band with former Refreshments and drummer-great P.H. Naffah, talented Danny White on Bass and the incredible Steve Larson on Guitar, the band manages to restrain itself where appropriate, and explode with power and life when called upon.Capping off the album is the beautiful "Leave An Open Door", possibly the sleeper of the entire set. Of course the 'hidden' "Hungover You", as well as the sing-along "Mexican Moonshine" reflect on the light south-of-da-border atmosphere the band has come from .... and goes back to on frequent occasions. In fact as a bonus included with the CD is a simple but wonderful "In the making" and "on tour" 50+ minute DVD which helps take you through the trials, tribulations and ultimate success the band achieved in grinding out this 4th album. Much of the album and the DVD takes place either in Mexico or with the heavy influence of the Arizona/Mexican border from which the band comes from.Not a bad song on the album, and a few I have not mentioned will surely get me a tongue lashing from real Peacemaker fans as being "great" - therefore - why not included? Which is fine in that there is such depth and variety for all to hear! I can leave any reader with these 3 bits of advice:
1. Get this album
2. Absorb this album
3. Then see the band live. The music and the experience will open your eyes to the incredible combination of great songwriting, great musical talent, incredible energy and most of all the FUN that rock 'n roll was meant to be!Salute!"