They say the difference between country and American music is that the former is the equivalent of a nice, shiny pair of pristine cowboy boots, and the latter a muddy and battered pair of work boots. If that is so, then J J Rane’s musical boots are battered and muddy, raw and well-traveled, but also reinforced with rock and roll rivets, steel sonic toe caps, and cracked and creased with musical character.
It is this blend of rock fire and Americana finesse, energy, and eloquence that defines his music. “Back Into The River” contains five salvos of this dexterous blend in action, sometimes leaning more to one side or the other.
The title track kicks things off with a wide-screen, cinematic sound punctuated with shards of guitar and raw riffs, pummelling drum breaks, and driving bass lines. That pretty much sets the baseline for what’s to follow.
“Hell of a Lie” pumps and grooves on staccato riffs, “In The Middle of Two Worlds” is a rootsy and spacious alt-country number, and “Wake Up” is wonderfully fluid and flowing. Things are wrapped up with an alternate, more folk-rock-infused version of the song that brought us in.
It is a deft and clever set of songs with a big sound without trying too hard to be anthemic, but it is certainly full of sonic grandeur….which is always a better card to play. All I can say is buy it now. You won’t regret it.
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