Various Artists – Let’s Go Dancing: Stopped A Freight Train [CD digipak]

“This latest physical offering from the epic 100-song living tribute to Kevn Kinney sharpens its focus on the harder, faster, and louder edges of his songbook. If earlier chapters leaned into folk-born introspection, Stopped A Freight Train With A Grain of Sand roars, spotlighting the grit and voltage coursing beneath Kinneys writing, whether delivered solo or at the helm of Drivin N Cryin. Deer Tick sets the tone straight away with a rugged, heartfelt Lets Go Dancing, leaning into its weather-beaten melody with the loose charm that keeps Kinneys music evergreen. The Black Crowes barrel in with a swaggering take on Acceleration, giving the song a Stones-esque strut without losing any Georgia red-clay spirit. Things get heavier when The Crossesfeaturing Dan Kubinski of Die Kreuzenrip through Powerhouse with serrated edges. Kevn and Dan have been slugging it out in the trenches side-by-side since Kevn fronted Milwaukee punk outfit the Prosecutors in the early 80s. Butch Walker dazzles with his take on Fly Me Courageous, giving the song a punchy, melodic sheen. Normally a smooth serenader, Edwin McCain flips the script bringing an unexpected ferocity to Rush Hour, while Dinos Boys inject youthful danger into Saddle on the Side of the Road, powered by Kevns son Tyler Kinney behind the kit. Bobby Bare Jr. drifts through Ridin on the Soul Road with spectral charm. Ghost Wolves snarling Back Against the Wall stands outits inclusion, along with Fang of Gores art-damaged spin through Let Lenny B (fronted by Ts Burnham, daughter of Gang of Four drummer Hugo Burnham), widens the albums emotional gravity with a female perspective on these songs. Tim Nielsen and Mark Bryan deliver a warm, lived-in take on Cant Promise You the Worlda notable pairing, as Tim is a co-founding member and bassist of Drivin N Cryin. The track also features Laur Joamets (Drivin N Cryin, Sturgill Simpson) trading guitar lines with Bryan (Hootie and the Blowfish). Miles Nielsen & the Rusted Hearts light a slow-burning spark under Build a Fire, with the added resonance of Miles being the son of Cheap Tricks Rick Nielsen. The albums true exhale comes with Peter Stroud and Friends shimmering leads in Underground Umbrella, an instrumental swan song that doubles as the final recording by Hammond B-3 legend Ike Stubblefield (the Four Tops, the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and more). Here, the song lands like a sunsetquiet, glowing, and perfect. – Chad Radford, author/music writer”