Austin Lucas
Album: Stay Reckless
Label: New West
Tracks: 11
Website: http://www.austinlucasmusic.com

"I don't want to be alone in Memphis, I don't want to be alone in New Orleans / I don't want to dwell in cheap motels, dirty sheets and hourly rates"

The first two lines of the chorus of the best song that you will hear all year, Alone In Memphis is an anthem for anyone who has been lonely, anyone who has been stuck in a place they don't want to be and anyone who spends too much time away from the one they want to be with.

This is Lucas' fourth album, his first on New West Records and his first with southern country rockers Glossary as his backing band. The combination of electric and pedal steel guitars with Lucas' high lonesome vocals is most keenly felt on the albums opener Let Me In and Save It For Yourself but, in truth, their influence is all over the album whilst never overpowering it.

The record was written amidst the separation and divorce from his ex-wife and whilst there are the levels of anger, bitterness and regret (aimed at both parties - Lucas is not above self examination) you would expect, there is positivity in equal parts and I can help but think that getting through a break up would be easier if you had this as a crutch. It is this tension together with the juxtaposition between the permanent and temporary that makes Stay Reckless Lucas' most cohesive piece of work and sets it apart from the plethora of good records into the realms of the great.

John 'The Jacket' Hawes