Leeroy Stagger and his band is back with a brand new CD “Radiant Land,” the first CD for Gold Lake Records.
“Radiant Land” starts with a catchy, crunchy, Crazy Horse tinged country rocker “Dirty Windshields.” I was hoping there would be more of those on the CD, though the Crazy Horse feel comes through again on “Light That Guides You Home,” one of the more melancholy numbers on the CD. But he is in a more introspective, mellower mind frame for most of the CD.
It is an almost overly optimistic, feel-good record. He sings pleasant melodies and tender, optimistic, happy songs about the road, travelling, life and and love. Leroy Stagger is all about the love on the CD. Even “when the world gets heavy on your back” on “Message of Love.”
I was hoping there would be more in that vein, but he is all about the peace and love on this CD, especially on “Enough Love To Go Around,” which has a Bob Dylan feel and on the exotic sounding “Maria.”
There are a lot of songs exploring the theme of love, either being in love, or sending a message of love and a touch of spirituality.
There are still elements of Steve Earle on several tracks including the standout “Capitalism Must Die.”
Stagger has an appealing voice which really makes his stories resonate.
“The title track is a highlight about travelling as is the title track “Dirty Windshields.”
“Capitalism Must Die,” is definitely one of the best things he has done, with a lot of Neil Young influence. They carry on in the more distorted, rocking vein on “Travelling Over Water,” a slower, dirtier song.
He ends on one last, slower acoustic song “Summer Storm, ” which has some really poetic lyrics.
Band: Leeroy Stagger and his band
Genre: folk/ country
Record label: Gold Lake Records
