CD Review Archive
All new reviews that are being added to the new site will be archived with the reviews from the old site. Reviews of new albums by an artist who already has an archived review in the database will be archived at the top of the existing artist page.
A few hundred archived CD reviews from the old site have been deleted from the database. Where possible I have preserved any reviews that reflect the intended continuity of music that I hope to review on the new version of the site.
Tex Don and Charlie 
Tex Don and Charlie
'All Is Forgiven'
Universal
British visitors to the site, certainly those outside of London who might have caught the band on one of their infrequent gigs in the city, might not be familiar with this trio of Australian musical patriarchs. Having said that, the individuals musical CV's read like a WHo's Who of Aussie rock.
Tex (Perkins) is something of a musical chameleon, slipping easily into his role of alt country meister in this side project to his swamp rock and blues outings with his bands The Cruel Sea and The Beasts of Bourbon. Long time musical collaborator Don Walker is perhaps better known for his work with Cold Chisel and Jimmy Barnes than his own songwriting, and legendary journeyman guitarist Charlie Owen has more credits to his name than could possibly be listed here, although the names The Cruel Sea and Louis Tillett would be among those more familiar on this side of the pond.
And so, with the formal introductions over, the debate about whether 'All Is Forgiven' is indeed an alt country album begins.
Since TDC released their last album, the alt country scene that the trios music loosely fits into has a much wider audience,
mainly due to the genre expanding its catchment, to accommodate new unclassified musical genres, and this latest release is likely to receive a warmer reception from fans of the genre than 'Sad But True' did.
Whilst this album might not immediately fall into the easily recognisable alt country twang and 'wide open space' pigeon hole, 'All Is Forgiven' has the elements that make the genre so adaptable. With cracked vocals and expansive guitars the trio certainly fulfill the basic criteria for deciding which genre to place the album in. Perhaps also the general lyrical theme of 'All Is Forgiven' is indicative of which direction the release leans, full of melancholic narrative pieces (circa early Waits) and nostalgic ballads, weaving intricate bruised heart romantics with shuffling social reportage and binding the whole with sonorous thoughtfulness. The world weary lyrical observations
introduce a host of seemingly broken down characters and one is left with an empathy for the predicaments they find themself in (even the swaggering Harry, dumped in Coff's Harbour).
Perhaps the chorus of 'Paycheques' epitomises the content of the album best:
"On weekends, I perform miracles,
I turn paycheques into wine,
One working weeks wage at a time"
OK, perhaps not quite alt country. What about alt semi-rural? Or alt urban country? Or.......
Backing on the album comes courtesy of Jim White (Dirty Three) on drums, Garret Costigan (pedal steel). Shane Walsh (double bass) and Naomi Radom (violin), with contributions from Paul Kelly, Jim Moginie (he of Midnight Oil) and Murray Patterson (from Perkins' Dark Horses side project).
Related links:
Tex Don and Charlie web site
Tex Perkins web site
Don Walker web site
Recommended related listening:
Tex Don & Charlie - 'Sad But true'
The Cruel Sea - 'We Don't Work We Play Music'
Tex Perkins' Dark Horses - 'Sweet Nothing'
Tex Don and Charlie'Sad But True'
Red Eye Records REDCD37
>>> see also Tex Perkins
>>> see also Louis Tillet & Charlie Owen
>>> see also Cold Chisel
Musicians:
Tex Perkins - Vocals & Guitar
Don Walker - Vocals & Keyboards
Charlie Owen - Backing Vocals, Guitar, Dobro & Lapsteel.
Shane Walsh - Bass
Jim White - Drums
Warren Ellis - Violin
Kim Salmon - Jewsharp
Garrett Costigan - Pedal Steel
Track list:
• Redheads, Goldcards & Long Black Limousines
• Postcard From Elvis
• Fake That Emotion
• The Girl With The Bluebird
• What I Done To Her
• Sitting In A Bar
• Dead Dog Boogie
• Louise
• Fateful Day
• Danielle
• Still The Same
• Barlow & Chambers
• I Must Be Getting Soft
Of course, I just had to include a classic back -catalogue album, and this one has been eagerly awaited at chez-moi for quite some time. I'm not even sure if the album is still available, as it took my local store almost 2 months to track down a copy for me - maybe I should have checked the internet first, which is what I recommend if any Perkins fans want to get hold of this album.
This album is a typical example of the type of stuff Perkins & Co. are famed for - head to the Perkins page for more a little more background info, and links. Of course, by saying 'Pekins & Co', I've kind of put my foot in it, because the musicians involved with the 2 'Tex Don & Charlie' albums have established themselves in their own right (Apart from the 3 obvious musician credits, the album also features (amongst others) 2 of the Dirty 3 trio and one of Perkins' long term music cohorts, Kim Salmon). Rather confusingly, Perkins' last 2 solo outings have included many of the same backing musicians, but released as solo albums - so it's a little difficult to put an 'artist' tag to many of the mans albums.
The defining point to deciding who exactly a Perkins album is fronted by, could possibly be determined by the song-writing credits; this particular album has almost equal measures of Perkins and Walker penned tunes, with the inevitable Owens instrumental track - hence the Tex Don & Charlie tag. (Incidentally, this album includes an early version of the Perkins/Owens classic 'What I Done To Her', which more recently made a reappearence on the bonus disc that came with 'Dark Horses). As a 'by-the-way', anyone who bought Cold Chisels 'Last Wave of Summer', will notice that the title track for that album seems to bear more than a passing resemblance to another Don walker penned track on this album ('Louise').
Right. I've had my ramble; if you aren't into Perkins fronted musical expeditions, none of this will make sense anyway! For the non-fan, who has absolutely no idea what all the fuss is about, I can recommend any Perkins fronted album, and should you have a particular liking for Nick Cave, Louis Tillet or Mick Harvey, Perkins' 'solo' stuff will make a fine addition to your collection - this particular back-catalogue (1993), would make a great starting point.