GEORGE TAYLOR
RAIN OR SHINE
SELF-RELEASED
GOODNIGHT–THE HARD WAY–RAILROAD SONG–WHAT AM I GONNA SAY–SCENERY–ONLY BLUE–BREAKIN IN BOOTS–HARVEST MOON–THE RAIN–SEAT WITH YOUR NAME
George Taylor has spent some time in Austin, TX, playing to the crowds at SXSW. But, to really learn his true calling, he made a pilgrimage to the Delta to find out what the blues was all about. As luck would have it, he’d just released his debut, “Trouble Town,” and found himself in Helena, AR, during a live broadcast of “King Biscuit Time.” Ole Sonny Payne interviewed him, and he soon recorded his latest set back in Austin, this one entitled “Rain Or Shine.”
This one is a really-eclectic set of originals, for sure. George combines country-blues with the sounds and stories of the Delta for a collection of ten songs that bring together his earthy vocals and deft finger-picking, and will appeal to a broad fan base.
Check out the somber message of “Scenery,” with George’s comparison of a broken love affair to that of a “runaway train,” but “the scenery always stays the same.” Another great metaphor is George’s lyric from the country-grunge of “tryin’ to love you is like Breakin’ In Boots.” “Harvest Moon” literally finds George howling at that moon after “drinkin’ ‘shine” and contemplating another relationship going south. He closes the set with the high-lonesome message of repentance and redemption, “Seat With Your Name.”
We had three favorites, too. The set leads off with the rockin’ story of George’s lover, who cheats with ole Bobby McGeee. This leaves George to come a-callin’ for “one more go at Goodnight.” “What Am I Gonna Say” deals with infidelity and its consequences, while the country-blues harp and odd percussion drives the classic barroom tale of “I’m Only Blue when I think of the times we shared!”
George Taylor brings us a set of hard-drinkin’ and hard-lovin’ good (and bad) times with the release of “Rain Or Shine.” He takes a touch of twang and mixes it with the ghosts of the Mississippi Delta for a delicious shot of his unique brand of ‘shine!! Until next time….Sheryl and Don Crow.
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