D. Charles Speer And The Helix - Leaving The Commonwealth

Speer's new album 'Leaving The Commonwealth' is a toe-tapping, rooting, tooting country record, as was his last one. Listening to this kind of music makes me want to maybe hog-tie some "city folk", drink a bucket full of moonshine and go back to my trailer and smack my wife in the eye. It adheres to almost every country rock cliche in the well-thumbed rule book. There is copious lap steel. Loads of longing lyrics, shiploads of fiddle! Its all really well composed and professional. Be prepared for some dirgy moments. Check out the wholesome backing vocals that conjure up images of accommodating Southern wimmin! Even though these pardeners are from the big city, New York! Everybody's from New York! I might rephrase that. Some people are from New York. The main protagonist it turns out isn't actually called D Charles Speer, his names David Charles Shuford and he's been line-dancing his way through popular music for quite some time now. I think his voice has a certain tremble and country style malaise to it that sounds ace. The subject matter for the songs ranges from death to....erm, longing and more death. Its a well produced affair that has enough emotion and soul in it to please even the most ardent of alt. country fans. WARNING: The front cover has elements of genocide plastered all over it. If you are easily offended then don't buy it...well you could buy it and throw away the cover and draw something more purdy like a sow in hot pants...YEEHAWW!!!