Friday's PickSong: "Hallelujah" Artist: Michael Dean Damron and Thee Loyal Bastards CD: Bad Days Ahead Genre: Roots-Rock NPR.org, March 21, 2008 - Michael Dean Damron used to lead the booze-drenched, appropriately named roots-rock band I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch In The House. Time hasn't mellowed the guy or improved his worldview, but on Bad Days Ahead — his first album under the moniker Michael Dean Damron and Thee Loyal Bastards — he's learned that righteous indignation can be even more affecting when it's delivered with a whisper instead of a scream. "Hallelujah" opens with the crack of a snare drum, conjuring images of a military funeral march. Essentially, that's what the track is: a chilling condemnation of a war and its aftermath, aimed directly at the provocateur and delivered with pitch-perfect dynamics that alternate between dispassionate contempt and heart-wrenching, agonizing fury. Damron's gruff voice becomes a bone-chilling howl during the choruses, in the process proving — particularly when combined with Heidi Hellbender's apocalyptic backing vocals — that the guys in the white hats can be scary, too.

I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch is long gone and Mike D has gone on to bigger and better things with his new records. I’ll always have a space in my heart for the wailing blues and slashing guitar of the old material but his new album Bad Days Ahead is just as good. There’s still gallons of blood and bile in his voice and songs. This isn’t “feel good” music, it’s “feel something when you’ve been numb for days” music. I hope Mike’s doing well wherever he is.

Michael Dean Damron likes rock, country and blues. So what’s a guy to do? Throw all of those influences together of course and see where you end up. During the first half of “Bad Days Ahead”, that’s definitely on the blues-rock side of things and Damron came back with a couple of scorching tracks like opener “I Love The Rain”. Gritty, honest and raw are three words that come to mind. The second half is a more mellow affair. Hell, there’s even room for some vocal harmonies on “Hallelujah” which Damron sings with Heidi Hellbender that do wonders for the song. And I’ll be damned if “Baseball Season Ends Early” wouldn’t have fitted right in on any Drive-By Truckers album. He’s not quite up there yet along with the other big guys but his debut with Thee Loyal Bastards is an impressive calling card nonetheless. Score: 7 out of 10

blues-rock side of things and Damron came back with a couple of scorching tracks like opener “I Love The Rain”. Gritty, honest and raw are three words that come to mind. As a dedicated fan of music (a/k/a music geek), I go through periods of time where I get incredibly jaded and disappointed with all that is going on in the music industry. I suppose anyone that regards music as something other than background music to semi-rhythmic toe-tapping has probably gone through these periods. When I was younger, I wasn't so discriminating and if it fell under the heavy metal umbrella, I was willing to give it a shot. As I got older, my tastes expanded and changed. It's become almost like a junkie chasing that initial high sometimes. Now that most heavy metal is sounds like Cookie Monster singing over detuned guitars and who knows what the hell happened to punk, finding new music that connects with my soul has gotten to be rather difficult. Several years ago, I happened upon a band's name that snagged my attention instantly--I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch In The House. I figured that with a name like that, they just had to be good. I checked out a sound clip for the song Gone and it thoroughly kicked my ass. On the spot, I ordered all of their then-available discs. When they arrived, it confirmed my original theory that they were not only good, but they were great. Long story short, I finally got to see the SOBs open for Lucero in Nashville back in 2006 and not only did they deliver one fine rock and roll show, but they were damn cool gents on top of it all. SOB main man, Mike D, released a rather stunning solo album, A Perfect Day For A Funeral, and a live SOB disc before the band broke up. As a devoted fan of the band, I took that break-up pretty hard. It was on par with the news that the Ramones were calling it quits for me. When word arrived in my e-mailbox that Mike D had a new album on the way with a new band, Thee Loyal Bastards, I was well aware of the track record and how much I loved his previous works and for some reason, that made me apprehensive about the new one. I should have know that the man would rise to the occasion and fly well over my already tall expectations. He did. I pre-ordered Bad Days Ahead literally about two minutes after I knew that it would be available in the United States from the ultra-excellent source for music and speedy delivery, CD Baby. Good fortune shined down on me for once and the disc arrived on my birthday. Anxious fingers didn't make the struggle with the shrink-wrap any easier. CD shrink-wrap has certainly earned its place in the Your Packaging Sucks!! hall of fame. Once liberated from the plastic-wrapped prison, the disc found its way to the player quickly. As each song played, I once again found that elusive musical high. I listened to it twice last night and it's been playing constantly today. It had been a while since I've wanted to replay an album over and over after the initial spin. Like the rest of Mike's work, I'm finding this album to be extremely addictive and in my mind, it's already a strong contender for the best of 2008.