Randall Bramblett – Paradise Breakdown
This Georgia-born multi-instrumentalist has been a hub in the songwriter’s wheel for decades & worked with many major artists. The topics while being typical (love & loss, nostalgia & mortality, joy & disappointment) have a Bramblett edge & slant that average songwriters seldom explore.
Bramblett isn’t exactly winding down a career. This new set of 11 rides on his 13th LP Paradise Breakdown (Drops Sept. 27/Strolling Bones Records/50:29) was produced by Gerry Hansen (drums) & Randall has the goods. Recorded in Nashville, TN & in studios in Georgia the songs come from an urban swamp-soul reserve with rootsy distinctions for roadhouse/juke joint dance floors & dark lonely saloon corners.
There’s a quality to this material that’s mindful of writers like John Loudermilk, Mickey Newbury, Hoyt Axton & Chip Taylor. Though Randall’s musical net is cast a bit wider. It’s easy for an artist to believe he’s getting older & running out of muses. But the majority of the songs here are mature & with that fact a new perspective. It brings a more sophisticated tint. And why not? Even Chuck Berry had to stop doing songs like “Sweet Little 16” when he was pushing 70. In that respect, Randall succeeds.
Vocally, Randall has a pleasant cohesive tone no different than say Jackson Browne or the late JD Souther — though Randall’s lyrics are a little more economical than Jackson’s. The pieces are expressive & never challenge listeners the way some progressive rock would. However, with tunes like “Fire Down In Our Souls” & “Down In the Wilderness,” the David Gilmour-like disciplined guitar drive is edgy. Randall’s fluid voice keeps the material anchored & not wildly endowed.
Light jazz punctuates “We Had It All the Time,” & features a convincing sax that penetrates. Bramblett sings this with skill. Nice raw vocal but not gruff – just an appropriate tone for such a composition. The band Mark-Almond would’ve found this of interest. Covering this with the soft-wiry breathy Jon Mark vocals, Johnny Almond reeds & Billy Cobham drums. Just one of my “what ifs” when I hear such wonderful material.
“Throw My Cane Away” digs deep into an urbanized substance & slides funkier with bright sax blares. A cross between the Average White Band & The Bar-Kays. Randall’s assured vocal narrative is cool but the exceptional “’Round & ‘Round the Sun,” will be in my ears for the next 2 days. Best of the bunch.
“Everything Is Stolen” is well sung but this take is too gimmicky with the electronics. Better left to people like Chas Jankel & Gary Numan.
A satisfying album.
Highlights – “Fire Down In Our Souls,” “We Had It All the Time,” “Throw My Cane Away,” “Down In the Wilderness,” “Circus” & “’Round & ‘Round the Sun.”
Musicians – Tom Bukovac, Steve Mackey, Nick Johnson, Seth Hendershot, A.J. Adams & Tom Ryan.
B&W image courtesy of Randall’s Bandcamp. CD @ Bandcamp & https://randallbramblett.com/home