Lance Cowan – Against The Grain
Those of us who have written about Americana music for decades no doubt know Lance Cowan, a longtime publicist who’s worked with many fine musicians and singer-songwriters. Few of us knew the talent he was holding in reserve. But last year he got a lot of praise for his late-in-life debut album So Far, So Good. Now comes Against The Grain, featuring 10 more original songs that further attest to his way with both melodies and lyrics. Several top supporting players help bring these tracks to life, including pedal steel great Dan Dugmore, New Grass Revival guitarist Pat Flynn and drummer Vinny Santoro. Recording mostly live at Nashville’s Sound Emporium, Cowan worked with co-producers Jason Stelluto and Scott Paschall to create elegantly layered arrangements centered around Cowan’s mellifluous tenor voice. He captures the sad regret of lost love on the opener “One More Chance,” picks up the pace on the twang-heavy “Ragged Edge of Nothing,” and gets spiritual on the lovely “Prayer For A Child.” Though Cowan’s business pursuits made him a Nashville mainstay, the sounds I hear on Against The Grain might well strike a deeper chord with fans of early-1970s Southern California country-rock.
– Peter Blackstock
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