melody, and “Yesterday’s Child” somehow re- minded me of old R.E.M. for a moment, albeit blended with a dash of Van Morrision. Of course, my very favorite is “Open Book.” From the lyrics to the melody to the arrange- ment, and I can’t emphasize enough the har- mony. I could listen to these guys all day. They call it “authentic Briticana,” and it is just that. That and more.
-Michael Buffalo Smith
David Bowie The Next Day (Deluxe Edition) (Columbia) For an old school
fan of David Bowie such as myself, The Next Day is like a true
gift. I mean, Bowie returns to the sound and style of days gone by while keeping it current and fresh. Let’s face it, he has always been several steps ahead of most other artists, and apparently, he still is. One of my favorite Bowie albums was
Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps), and from the very beginning of The Next Day, the sound is very similar. It could have been a se- quel, for goodness sakes. Not that the entire new album sounds like Scary Monsters, but it manages to combine that flavor with tastes of Hunky Dory, Ziggy Stardust, and Space Oddity. Besides the title track opener, there’s “Dirty
Boys,” with it’s Doors sounding groove (Bowie channels Jim Morrison) , and “The Stars Are Out Tonight” even tosses in a Let’s Dance vibe blended with some Diamond Dogs imagery. This is Bowie at his very best. I dare say The Next Day is rising to my Bowie Top 5, a list that has not changed since 1980. “Love Is Lost” continues with the old school
vibe, and suddenly I realize that I will be play- ing this album a lot in the coming weeks. And I do mean, a lot. The haunting “Where Are We Now?,” the first single release from the record is moody, soulful perfection, and “Valentine's Day” is another standout track. Pure Bowie. There’s no shortage of great songs here,
from “I'd Rather Be High” and “Dancing Out In Space” to “How Does the Grass Grow?,” each song is a winner. I recommend the deluxe edition, which includes three excellent bonus tracks.
- Michael Buffalo Smith
The Charlie Daniels Band Hits of the South (Blue Hat) Charlie Daniels al-
ways did know how to throw a party, and Hits of the South, the new album from Charlie re-
minds us of that fact. Coming out of the chute kicking like a brahma bull, Charlie delivers the r&b rocker “Sign, Sealed, Delivered” with Southern Rock Soul Sister Number One, Bon- nie Bramlett in a duet that will burn the short hairs out of your ear canal. Bonnie never gives less than 100 percent, and in that way, she and Charlie are a matched pair. The retelling of “Long Haired Country Boy”
with Brooks & Dunn is great fun, and “South- ern Boy” is a southern rockin’ good time duet with Charlie sharing the vocals with Travis Tritt. The Band’s “The Night They Drove Ol’ Dixie
Down” is given the full CDB treatment, and special guest Vince Gill adds his smooth country vocals to make this one a sheer joy. The late Taz DiGregorio shines o lead vocals on the Allman Brothers Band’s version of
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