JASON PAULSON
CROW RIVER RAMBLE
BAD HABITS–I DON’T WANNA GO HOME–CAN’T GET ENOUGH–HOME TO YOU–CLOSE YOUR EYES–COLD IN CALIFORNIA–LONELY–LOVE–THE TRAIN–LONG WAY TO RUN–MYSTERIOUS–LOVE THAT YOU LEAVE BEHIND
It has been our great pleasure to review recent releases from well-known artists who have taken their music back to its roots. Evidence our reviews on Peter Karp and Luther Dickinson, whose latest sets contain material that goes back to the beginning of their careers. We will now add Jason Paulson to that list, with his latest, “Crow River Ramble.” He is based in Minneapolis, and is known for his incendiary, ‘lectrified live shows. But, for this set, he composed several of the twelve cuts on his ol’ reliable Martin acoustic. He also uses mandolin and banjo throughout this album, and writes songs dealing with blue-collar, hard-working folks who always seem to be pulled in by man’s constant struggle against good and evil. Just like the poor soul in the leadoff cut, as he “works three jobs just to live in debt,” and “wonders what comes next–Bad Habits or bad checks.” Then there are those folks that really have a tough time with right and wrong, like the hero of “The Devil just lost a one-way fight, and I Don’t Wanna Go Home,” and that fellow who “hears someone calling for you” in “Lonely,” but “I don’t wanna dance with the Devil tonite!” The guitar is outstanding here, with cool slide in the left channel, and a punchy acoustic guitar in the right channel, reminiscent of Django Reinhardt.
There’s always a light of redemption and salvation at the end of the tunnel, tho. We loved Jason’s lyric that teaches us to “let all you do be done in Love,” and he closes the set with some of his finest guitar work on a song that defines a man’s maturity, when he realizes that “it’s not what you have, but The Love That You Leave Behind.”
Our favorite was easy. “Mysterious” deals with perhaps the most famous denizen down on Highway 61–the one where “you don’t find him–he finds you,” likely down at the Crossroads! It has a sweet Delta groove with some mighty well-placed slide.
Jason Paulson has crafted a rootsy set that is sure to add to his growing fan base. “Crow River Ramble” is pure and honest–exactly the way Jason wrote ’em! Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society.
donandsherylsbluesblog 
Posted by Campervan Records on March 15, 2016 at 1:17 am
Thank you for the review. Cheers and best wishes. Campervan Records.