BY LESLEY HASTINGS
I could save a lot of time by simply describing the new album from Drake Milligan as ” 14 tracks of country music bliss” but I guess that’s probably not going to be sufficient for a review! But I really hope you agree with that summation after you’ve given “Tumbleweed” ( released this Friday, 7th November) your full attention.
It’s been over three years since Drake’s hugely successful debut album “Dallas/Fortworth” shot him to prominence, he released his EP “Jukebox Songs” last year and of course has made quite a name for himself as a fantastic live performer too ….he’s not earned the title of the “Country Elvis” for nothing! So there’s no denying that this album has been eagerly anticipated by his ever growing fan base, with Drake announcing the release date on the Opry stage no less just a few weeks ago.
Produced by fellow Texan Trent Willmon and working with an array of phenomenal musicians (the names Jenee Fleenor, Scotty Sanders and Jim “Moose” Brown in particular leapt out at me on the credits) the traditional country and early rock ‘n’ roll music that inspired Drake of course remains at the heart of the arrangements. Fiddle, pedal steel and honky tonk piano feature strongly on tracks such as album opener “Cryin’ Shoulder“, “Old Flames, Old Whiskey” which was one of two tracks available ahead of release day, and the really fun “Girl Like You” which showcases Drake’s flirtatious side. Not to mention the fabulous and infectious closing track “How Much Beer” which sees Drake joined by Randall King, another Lone Star State artist of course, it sounds like they had so much fun recording this one which I can see becoming a rowdy fan favourite at live shows.
But I really love the fact that there’s some brilliant sonic variety throughout the album to complement those rich baritone vocals, which I must say I found particularly impressive on the album’s slower tracks such as the heartfelt “Like The Moon” and the Marty Robbins inspired heartbreaker “Hard Headed Cowboy“. For example, the album’s title track is really quite different from anything he’s recorded before, and as the first taste of what to expect when it was released in September let us know that Drake is not afraid to switch thing up slightly this time round. Incidentally it is one of just two songs on the album that Drake doesn’t have writing credits on, but it’s one which he says he loved “from the second he heard it”, its reflective lyrics resonated with him as a busy touring musician and he could hear exactly where he wanted it to go. And it seems he has a real knack of knowing what each individual song on this project needs; just listen to the fabulous Tex-Mex vibe on “Hearts Together“, the more contemporary edge on “Turn It Off” and the bluesy inspired “Lonely:30″ and “Goodbye Ain’t All That Bad“. Elements of Jazz and swing come through on one of my current favourites “Talk Texas”, an ode to Drake’s home state of course ……maybe his next title could be the “Country Sinatra“?
However, as much as I’m totally loving listening to the incredible arrangements throughout this album, which is easily in my top releases of the year I hasten to add, I’m sure I’m not the only person who can’t wait to see Drake perform this new material live when he returns to the UK to play C2C for an incredible third time in four years . Let’s see if my prediction regarding ” How Much Beer” come true, but whatever happens I know we are all in for one big honky tonk party.
Tumbleweed Tracklist:
1. Cryin’ Shoulder
2. Hearts Together
3. Tumbleweed
4. Turn It Off
5. Like The Moon
6. Good As Gone
7. Slow Dancing To A Fast Song
8. Old Flames, Old Whiskey
9. Girl Like you
10. Hard Headed Cowboy
11. Lonely:30
12. Goodbye Ain’t All That Bad
13. Talk Texas
14. How Much Beer (Drake Milligan & Randall King)
Listen to ” Tumbleweed” here https://drakemilligan.lnk.to/tumbleweedalbumig