Walter Tragert
Lousy With Desire
Independent
By Danté Dominick
 The biggest downfall
of this release is that the first two songs are just so damn
good. Not that the rest is bad, but those initial cuts bring
to my mind first listens of The Southern Harmony and Musical
Companion, the Black Crowes sophomore effort that screamed
loud and clear rock-and-roll is alive and thriving, thank you
very much. Eight minutes into this Austin musician's self-released
CD and I've drawn comparison to the greatest rock band of an
entire decade. That's kind of unfair. And so, apologies to
Walter Tragert for needing a little time to loosen up and realize
the rest of his record is quite solid as well.
Produced by "Scrappy" Jud Newcomb (who also lends
his guitar playing) of the bound-to-be-legendary Resentments,
the recording does a great job featuring Tragert's booming vocals.
His singing fills a venue wall to wall, floor to ceiling, into
the men's room stall and this CD captures it all. Robust and
soulful, that about sums it up.
"Singing on the Radio," with bluesy keyboards swimming
in pre- "Start Me Up" Stones and soul-sister background
vocals, announces up-front that Lousy With Desire is rock-and-roll.
Granted the disc would fit nicely in the review pages of No
Depression and rotation on AAA radio programs. Yes, many
cuts lie in balance with Slaid Cleeves while avoiding the realm
of Axl Rose entirely, but Tragert does just fine without the
increasing dedication to fashionable tags.
This doesn't mean there is no room for Tragert to grow. A
couple songs go by with scant notice. The wah pedal fills on
"What Else Can I Do" are maybe an instance of trying
to do too much. But if anyone deems "Tosca Girls"
corny it is clear they have not happened upon the lovely and
talented Tosca String Quartet; every man falls pretty quickly.
Inside jokes aren't always the best idea for an album, but the
slick arrangement and the "tango groove" allow it to
pass.
Melodic and pensive, "Clear To Me" is clearly a
highlight. "Harder Tonight" has a nice pull-myself-up-by-the-bootsraps
feel that could have come from Asbury Park, N.J. The Boss, the
Police and the Stones influences are evident in the steady backbeat,
percussive electric guitar and electric keys as "What Do
You Want" and "Always on Fire" lead us to the
album's conclusion. The perfect album sendoff, "Tagalong,"
sans rhythm section, features bright fingerpicking and doubles
as the perfect dip your-toes-in-the-creek anthem:
After supper it's getting dark
Catching fireflies when they spark
Secret hiding place is marked
With that ol' turtle shell
Now tagalong you're a little small
Think I can still see the ball
One more game before that call
When momma rings the bell
Lousy With Desire is one hell of a calling card. Independent
releases face an uphill battle
in the world of distribution. It is promising to witness customers
purchase the disc at live shows; patrons who just came to hang
out in the club wound up hitting the ATM to get copies. The
trick is getting the opportunity to be heard. Fortunately for
Tragert, he possesses a rich, warm singing voice that registers
on the Richter Scale which tends to grasp folks attention.
Pick up your copy of Lousy With Desire at www.texasmusicroundup.com
Contact Dante Dominick at dominick-at-rockzilla.net
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