European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 10, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse Country music s new wave Back to the roots by John Swenson United press International he roots music Boom that has gripped the record Industry Over he past year has had one of its most dramatic impacts in an unlikely place country music. Veteran Nashville producers who d abstracted modern country music production to the Point where shimmering arrangements of massed strings took the place of sliding steel guitars As the music s trademark sound arc now looking Over their shoulders at a new Breed of country performer revolutionizing production techniques by stripping everything Down 1o basics. This year s grammy awards show spotlighted the sudden Rise to prominence of three Young country music stare slave Date Dwight Yoakam and Randy Travis who epitomize the values of country music s new wave the three performed Back la Back winning an end Hus Maslic crowd reaction to their raw Homespun rhythms and Folksy lyrics. Travis had one of the year s most important country songs in Diggin top Bones but Earie and Yoakam s achievements May Well be More significant in the Long run. Because both artists Appeal ranges far beyond traditional country music boundaries. Earth s guitar town and Yoakam s guitars. Cadillac Etc. Albums sold Well in the country Market but also appealed to Rock audiences that found the hard edged twang of both men s sound to their liking. Travis Earle and Yoakam All have new albums out hat their respective labels Hope will establish them in the pop As Well As country music mainstream. Unlike most crossover moves of the past Hough. His strategy is being pursued without asking the artists to alter their sound in any Way. Travis Slicks closest 1o a conventional country approach on his record always s forever. Selecting material from several different songwriters Travis lets his Smoky reassuring Voi Ca Sel the album s tone. The songs cover a Range of Stock emotional platitudes with Travis setting up trick lines in his devastatingly Deadpan delivery. Travis cleverly nun Agea to walk the line Between heaven and he. While paying lip service to Good old boy rhetoric Travis assures the country audience Herd that he s a Good citizen trying to tiring his life into phase with fundamentalist standards of morality forever and Ever amen a Roach Promise of eternal Fidelity is the album s current country hit single but tonight we re Gonna tear Down the Walla shows thai Travis is still in the mood to party occasionally As Well. Earle on the other hand has moved As Lar away from the country mainstream As possible on exit 0 without breaking from it completely. Like a lot of the younger country audience Earle grew up listening to country music in one ear and Rock n Roll in the other and both strains have been incorporated whole into his vision of a Rural America populated by angry Young men driving Rucks drinking Beer and looking for women. Earla has coined his own Brand of country Rock arrangements nowhere Loarf tha week or living dangerously but shows other influences As Well irom Tex mex san Antonio Gir to buddy Holly i love you too Muc Hbruce Springsteen Tow Fly re came Down and the rolling stones i Ain t never satisfied Dwrght to Akcam s album. Hillbilly deluxe is the perfect illustration of the Way country s new wave has revitalized some of the music s essential elements. Yoakam pays tribute to Lefly Frizzell by covering always late with your kisses but it s his songwriting voice that really makes the connection with country and Western pioneers Yoakam does t Deal in dimes Ore pities and main Street gossip he writes about Complete outsiders stranded souls wrestling with existential demons a landscape where lost loves torment people like Stephen King nightmares where trains Beckon in wanderlust addiction where a California Cowboy howls Semi models at the Moon and commands the bartender to hasten his end. Hillbilly deluxe Wili not Only Appeal to both Rock end country audiences but make Rock fans aware of that music s debt to country roots and country tans. Happy to be part of a Rock n Roll mainstream that was Only recently considered he enemy def Gnu Yoakam and Steve Earle perform at the International truck & country fest at in Wetzlar Germany near Giess Enthis weekend june 2-13. Tickets Are available at usual outlets and Aruso itt of ices or Call 06121 -302922. Top of the charts top pop singles r always a inc Stan 2. You keep a hangin1 on _ Kyj new fam 1 head to toe us leu my cull Ilia t. Htoo of go win 6.1wanna dance with somebody a my Boullon lab Inzeo con n Eumah 7. Wanted Bead of alive Tun Jovle due once Hotal Purt with of without you us 0, just to s6e her 6 in a top up s t. The Joshua thee my i Whitesnake we my 1 Slippery when Sci 600 jad4. Look what the cat dragged in Polton 6. Was of lulls 01his l tribute of 7. Gnu Ceung plut Simon b. Tango in the Muhi film Wood m c 9. Out voice Bart i sttloind10. Spanish Fly us us cull top country singles1 h forever and Ever. Amen r h .1. Baby s quota hold on me wily my Oil Ding a vote by my first mov . Smmmm4. You re never too of for you no love body fowl 5, eur Tihomil contoy8, chains of Gold so Thuru Otlyn Bouw t. Little sister Omati ttukim8 All my sex s j be in Texas grab strut 9. It s Only Over Fob you tiny Tuc Tif 10. Love you at seen the last of me Jotin Schr or top soul singles. Rock 5teadv the walk i 2. Diamonds h akxn1 Tao tote _ us lot t cult in 4. Why you treat me so bad club Nouveau 5. Why should t a Fly no it Mary 6. Never Sav never wills 7,1oont wanted lose Youh love from Jick gun b. Still a thrill Judy Atlon 9.1 Wanna dance with somebody a Lully hour of 10 i feel oooo Hij. Over by pm Mill top video cassette rentals 1. The Colcol of Money 2. Perov sue oot married 3. Finrl3 bueller s Day off i. Children of a cd s. Beqai eagles 9. Top oun1, stand by me 9 Blue velvet 10. The by by Bort up guano and Dpi Buim by Asi Balm of wednesday june 10, 1987 the stars and stripes Paga 17
