Luke Olson

Item: Uvalde
Author: Andrew West Griffin

Uvalde

(2003)

Reviewed by Andrew West Griffin

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Label Luke Olson ProductionsThe Phantom Tollbooth2003

alternative country americana bluegrass folk

If you have never heard Texas-based country-folk musician Luke Olson, well, you're in good company because until a month or so ago, neither had I.

This prolific 25-year-old San Antonio native has been gaining quite a loyal following in the Lone Star state since 1996, thanks to his constant touring and strong fan base.

Uvalde is Olson's fourth album, his follow-up to 1999's Panhandle Sunset.

Olson's appeal is, in part, due to his pleasantly confident demeanor, literate songwriting, and his love of country, western, folk, and bluegrass stylings and related instrumentation. Moreover, while it may sound as though he's a purist, he's not. Pop stylings are clearly evident and work well in the mix.

And his pleasant, alt-country voice is bound to win over leagues of listeners.

Spending long hours traveling from show to show is noted in the folk-rockin' "On The Road." Nice percussion on this song.

The title track, "Uvalde," sounds like a slower paced update of Michael Martin Murphey's Tex-Mex song "What Am I Doin' Hangin' Round," popularized by the Monkees back in 1967. In this case it's Joel Guzman's subdued accordion on Olson's song rather than Peter Tork's banjo that grabs the listener.

"Gulf Coast Romance" is the most enjoyable song on the album, and reminds me a lot of Robert Earl Keen's "Corpus Christi Bay." On this one, which features terrific guest vocals from fellow Texans Pat Green and Ray Wylie Hubbard, we find a guy and gal that find true love down along the Coastal Bend of Texas. "It's a Gulf Coast romance, stronger than a fishing line / They go together like shrimp on a trebled hook / If the trailer don't blow away / In the next hurricane / They'll be together 'til their dying day."

For Olson, the simpler times were when he was a kid. This particular time in his life is recalled on the wistful "1985," when, according to the song, Olson spent his summer days swimming, fishing, and enjoying life with his family. It immediately brings to mind folk-pop singer John Mayer's nostalgic song "83," featured on his major-label debut Room For Squares. In fact, there are some vocal and musical similarities between the two Southern artists.

Olson is ably backed by his crack band of musicians who play like they really care about the music. In fact, they indulge in some jams at the end of a couple of songs, as on his remake of J.J. Cale's "If You're Ever in Oklahoma." On that peppy track, guitarist David Grissom and mandolinist Rich Brotherton duel toward the end. Nice touch.

Backing vocalist Amy Lum Francis adds a boost to "North" with her sweet, lilting voice, while on the engaging and feel-good tune "Old Mines Road," Olson's voice and fiddle player Ron Knuth's chops just knock me out. In fact, it brought to mind some of the incidental music featured on the late, great TV show "Northern Exposure." Olson's rootsy music would have been right at home on that quirky program.

"Greenwood Town" is Olson's classy ode to traveling through Dixie and his fond memories of a friendly town in South Carolina. "And there's one thing I can say, there's nothing like the Southern U.S.A," Olson sings with utter conviction.

Uvalde is one of the best records I've heard this year. There isn't a bad song in the bunch. It will definitely be at the top of my "best of" list for 2003 and an album I will be listening to again and again.

4 tocks