FingerPistol
Album: Stepped In It Again
Label: Avery International
Tracks: 16
Website: http://www.fingerpistol.com

Hailing from Texas, USA, FingerPistol deliver an album that should really carry some sort of warning sticker on the cover! 'Stepped in it again' is addictive beyond belief; Fifteen original songs of distinction written and arranged by Dan Hardick, who, as well as taking acoustic guitar duties, shares vocal responsibilities with Suzee Brooks....

As you would expect the subject matter of the songs on this album is relatively standard country music fayre, love, loss, whiskey, dancing, more love, more loss and more whiskey.....but it's the tongue in cheek manner of their delivery that makes this so special, so engaging and so damn good! The songs are so well written, taking us on a mischievous journey through Texan life, and for those of non country music persuasion educating as they go.....there's plenty of 'in jokes' here, which need further investigation, and at this point it's thank goodness for Google, or not as the case may be!!!!!

'Truck Nutz' is a perfect example of this.....whatever are Truck Nutz I hear you ask....well, I googled and sort of wished I hadn't....I hope this is a humorous song! It just has to be.....don't say you weren't warned folks!

'Hipster Girls' again a wonderful observation, this time of the inability of skinny jean wearing ladies to dance to the required standard! It's just pure class, and who am I to challenge this observation? And so it goes, song after song that not only bring a smile, but coax the listener to sing along to each and every chorus.....choruses that are so simple yet at the same time so refined!

FingerPistol are a six piece band, comprising vocals as aforementioned with Dan and/or Suzee taking the fore....acoustic guitar, electric guitar employed intelligently, subtle bass guitar, pedal steel guitar complimenting the other strings and drums driving this country rock'n'roll carousel.....additional fiddle, accordion, and piano are also utilised on various tracks to complete a warm, uplifting experience.

Dan's vocals are strong and forthright and dare I say it there's a hint of many of the genre's finest in there....certainly a huge nod to Johhny Cash, and to Elvis too.....and Suzee's voice is rich yet very homely and the two work together extremely well, harmonising to perfection.....

The album is certainly well written, well produced and well presented and furthermore is a triumph for this hard grafting band.....their fan base, as well as the band themselves, will surely be delighted with this release and here's hoping that said fan base will grow at the rate FingerPistol deserve on the merit of this......and here's hoping too that there will be many a country music convert on the back of great songs like 'Desperate Women', 'Bottle of Whiskey', and 'Country music made a drinker out of me....'

A.J. Tranter