I first came in contact with this band by way of their cut on the ROOTSROCK.COM VOLUME ONE sampler 5 years ago.  When the new disc arrived I was anxious to hear, to catch up with one of Alt-country's unsung heroes.

Like old friends, the music quickly brought me into their world of earnest sentiment and understated delivery.  I immediately got the sense that much of the band's effectiveness is its humble and modest approach to making music.  They have a gifted way with melody, use honest lyrical themes and execute the production in a way that will surely send technically great groups back to the studio to try to capture a more authentic, if admirably ragged, production style.  Much like The Band impacted a 1967 Psychedelic-era awash with over-produced wankery with their down-home Music From Big Pink, The Dullards "Willard's" is as personal and heartwrenching as it gets.  The saying goes, it all starts with a song.  Here's a tale of someone climbing out of the darkness to face the continuing struggles of life.  I believe it.  It hits home.

"Sour Mash and Gasoline" is another standout.  What might appear to be a country music cliche at first glance is a lyric rich in imagery and, again, a credible sentiment.  Of course the singer's dreams were on hold while working a shift at Howard Johnson's...haven't we all been there?  Living out of the back seat....classic.

Musically, these lyrics are propped up by country rock instrumentation that reference POCO, Dillard & Clark and contemporaries The Jayhawks.  The songs are delivered by longing voices that blend beautifully well despite their vulnerabilities.  Alistair Millar and Guy Benson have a brotherly bond that the combined vocals reveal.  No doubt they feel the righteousness of singing the parts together as if strumming on a front porch down the street from your appalachian kin.  Everything they do on the record follows the age-old addage to "keep it simple" letting the song breath and live on its own.  If only more, otherwise good, groups could understand this.

The Dullards are creating art here, not commerce.  If God separated the artists from the poseurs, commercial success notwithstanding, and moved all the former to the left side of the room, The Dullards would be standing over with the songsmiths, the Hank Williamses, the Robbie Robertsons, the Kris Kristoffersens....in the other corner would be the fancy pants pretenders like Don Henley, Matchbox 20 and Rascal Flatts.
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This is an authentic, perfect, twangy, drawling, downright poetic country rock CD. Wilco would tip their hats in appreciation and then get the hell out of the way before getting run over. This band is out of the gate and tearing up the southern highway.

The harmonies are gorgeous. The blues are alive. These boys kick serious hindparts. If you’ve got a yard big enough and a town noise ordinance lenient enough, have them play your next party. I don’t know about my town’s noise ordinance, but these guys are worth going to jail for. Buy this CD. Now.
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well-rounded, sharp lyrics and great tunes! really like sour mash and gasoline for the imagery. nothing generic about this music-truly original. can't wait for the next CD.
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