Micky and the Motorcars

Here�s a big shout out to my good buddy Bob Mitchell who turned me on to Micky and the Motorcars back in late 2004. (Bob, if you�re reading this, thanks for all the great music! I appreciate it). Bob was working the band to Americana radio for the Smith Entertainment folks and I’ve always respected his musical tastes and the label always seemed to put out great music (see Keith Gattis, Randy Rogers, and Stoney LaRue just to name a few). So when the Motorcars record hit my desk (their sophomore release entitled "Ain�t In It for the Money"), I ripped it open, headed out to the truck, popped it in the CD player, and hit the road. I should mention that I always do my best listening when driving; if an album hits me while I�m behind the wheel, usually it�s a keeper. And when working in radio, you should always remember that good car music is typically good radio music and that�s just the way it is...or so I believe.

So there I am cruising in the mountains with the radio cranked up to the appropriate Spinal Tap level of "11", listening to Micky and the boys and thoroughly enjoying their straight ahead brand of Texas country rock. Then it hits me. I�m hearing something familiar in these guys but I can�t quite put my finger on it...but wait...I�ve got it!!!...Reckless Kelly...these guys sure do sound like Reckless Kelly. So I grab the CD case, rip out the liner notes and start scanning through looking for special thanks, guest musicians, etc...all while keeping ol� Black Beauty (that�s my truck) between the white and yellow lines. (If this dangerous practice of driving and reading sounds familiar to some readers, please see my David Rodriguez review from earlier this year...and kids please don�t try this at home). Immediately I find the name I�m looking for...Braun. Yep I was right...I know this had to have...but wait this isn�t Cody and Willy...this is Micky and Gary...Braun...same last names as the Reckless fellas but with just a touch more rock with a little less polish...and yet still solid all the way through. Very interesting. Turns out that Micky and Gary and Cody and Willy share more than a last name...they share a family musical history and these four brothers from Stanley, Idaho are starting to make a name for themselves. Cody and Willy have Reckless Kelly in high gear after two successful releases on Sugar Hill records and now Micky and Gary and the rest of the Motorcars are back with their third release "Careless", as they look to further build on their own rising star. Looks like it�s time to saddle up Black Beauty and go for a spin...let�s check out the newest musical fare from Micky and the Motorcars.

"Careless" opens with the album�s title track written by lead guitar player Joseph Deeb. The music is driving, the hooks are clear, and the sound is tight. Deeb�s guitar grinds throughout while Mark McCoy on bass, Shane Vannerson on drums, and Gary Braun on guitar hold down the rhythm. Front man Micky Braun carries the vocals with a touch of swagger and a slight growl on this love-lost rocker. Micky and the Motorcars aren�t trying to re-invent the alt. country wheel; they just play it straight from the hip and the opening cut sets the tone for the rest of the album�s twelve tracks. This is, as I�ve mentioned before, no fuss, straight ahead Texas country rock.

On track two, we get a little more of the country feel on the tune "Carolina Morning" written by Pinto Bennett, another songwriter from the Braun brothers� home state of Idaho. For my tastes this is one of the album�s strongest tracks and it features the steel guitar work of one of the Lone Star state�s finest musicians, Mr. Lloyd Maines. "Carolina Morning" is another song from the broken heart category, but as in the preceding cut, Micky and the Motorcars take heart break and turn it into a steel guitar driven road trip song. And when the band finally slows it down a bit, they don�t miss a step as evident by two of the album�s moodier cuts, "Desperation", written by Micky�s older brother Willy Braun of Reckless Kelly fame and on Micky�s own song "Long and Lonely Highway" which comes along at the album�s midpoint. "Highway" is without a doubt the most poignant song on this new collection, as the electric guitars are toned down and replaced by an acoustic arrangement and guest appearances by Earl Poole Ball on piano and Mickey Raphael of Willie Nelson�s band on harmonica.

The rest of the album pretty much holds to form with soaring guitars, a strong back beat, and Micky�s vocals rolling out over the Texas hills. Other highlights include Micky�s "Louisiana Baby" and a nice version of Kip Attaway�s "Rocksprings to Cheyenne". The only real disappointment is the tune "Pretty" as the lyrics just seem to fall short and the rock n roll seems more suited for a college frat party. That said...the album doesn�t disappoint, but it doesn�t break any new ground either. The reason we keep driving the familiar back roads is because they�re just that...familiar. "Careless" will please old fans and won�t disappoint new listeners just coming on board. As I turn for home and my truck rumbles up the drive, the last guitar chord fades out, the lights go down, and the motor lies quiet. The new release from Micky and the Motorcars might not drive away your heartache, but an hour on the highway with these twelve songs might just do you some good.