Album Notes

From Todd Bugs, Lake Hughes CA.

Rice Moorehead “you make me feel…” (Full Length CD) 2009 Independent Release

Self proclaimed as “Roots guitar freakout with bad ass chicks on bass and drums” well that sounds like a tag line I would stand behind. I didn’t have the chance to see Rice perform with his backing band of bad ass chicks, but on the record they do deliver the goods. Rice has a long history in the music business with roots going from playing guitar and harmonica in a seedy hideaway (I think that was even the name of the bar) in Tennessee to playing and living in the music juggernaut that is Austin Texas. In between the two places in life he also honed his chops playing with various other recording artists on various labels playing bass as well as guitar. With an accomplish list of credits to his name like writing and producing ten records and being showered with the highest compliment giving by northern Ireland “record of the week” Rice is no stranger to being praised for his music. Now a full time resident of Austin Texas he spends most of his time playing there, however I did meet him while on tour playing bass for another one of Texas’s greats, the Hickoids. It was then that I was able to see him perform some of the songs on “you make me feel…” and became an instant fan of his work. Not only is Rice a great singer/songwriter/performer he is a nice guy to boot.
The opening track “Where I Stay” is a cool groove tune with a great side guitar in it, Rice’s voice is perfect through out. The following shuffle beat, toe tapping bluesy tune “It Don’t Matter” makes you just want to get up and move! The lyrics are great as well, “I would say I’m sorry if I cared” this just might be the best tune of the record I think! The bass and saxophone driven instrumental “Honky Soul” is very well described by the title. Another on of my favorite is “Molly the Cowgirl” with its loose jangly guitar and cool keyboard in the background. Rice did all this with the help of some great musicians and great guest appearances that helped make this record shine. One guest in particular is cow punk legend Texacala Jones which Rice said from the stage as I watched him “Texacala sings on my new record, so if you like her you should buy it just for that reason”. I for one can say that she did a great job, but her appearance is not the only reason you need to buy this record. Like for instance the slow dirty guitar country sounding tune “Somewhere on I-35”. This is a great tune all about driving on a long road, passing cars with only one head light, holding the steering wheel tight and thinking of your girl, this is a great and well written tune. The backing vocals at the end are spot on, I love it. The closer of the record (if you don’t include the thirty second hidden track) is also the title track, while there might not be a big chance of terrestrial radio playing this tune due to some of the language, it is a great tune. What it is that you make me feel like doing rhymes with “trucking” but it doesn’t involve driving, or clothes for that matter… I’m sure you get the idea.
Rice Moorehead’s “you make me feel…” is without a doubt one of the best records I’ve heard in a long time, heavy in the funky soul, blues, roots and rock genres it has a little of everything that makes it great. I can’t say it enough, if you like good music get this CD! You can get some of his stuff at iTunes and CD-Baby under his witness protection pseudonym “Amberjack Rice” or just check out Rice on line at www.ricemoorehead.com and www.myspace.com/ricemooreheadband and maybe you too will soon feel like…