I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hired Hand, from Geoff Arsenault and it's sketchy and raggedy ...and maybe just right. Opening with Steps To Gumbo, Geoff Arsenault sets a simple drum template and underscores it with laid back vocals. Joined by Zev Katz on bass, and Glenn Patscha on B3 and Wurlitzer this track sets a cool line, underscored by Joey Landreth on slide guitar. Strong opener. Just a dash of funk in his drums on Bullet Won't Stop gives it a real nice feel with punctuation by Patscha on Wurlitzer. Creatively interesting. Balled, The Great Divide is really a strong track feeling a bit like Dylan. His haunting vocal pairing with Amy Helm is super and Patscha's B3 works really nicely with iridescent sonic backing. Very nice. I Ain't Locked Down is a pure 2 step rocker with JJ Cale like style. Easley on bass and Arsenault on drums (and vocal) set the meter and Patscha on B3 and George Sluppick on tambourine give the track texture giving Colin Linden a wide open road for some real nice guitar soloing. Jazzy, Already Gone, has a cool, acoustic guitar, drum B3 backing under Arsenault's vocals and Linden again shows great flair on electric guitar. Wrapping the release is simple ballad, Cajun Soul with Arsenault delivering the melody on vocal and acoustic guitar, supported by Easley on bass, Patscha on Wurlitzer and Accordion and David Mansfield on Cajun style fiddle. Very warm closer for a cool release.
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