- Kevin Deal
The Lawless
Blind Nello Records
- By Kevin Minihan
 Whatever happened
to the concept album? True, some were misguided, but sometimes
it was cool to have a running theme that permeated each song.
Kevin Deal has brought it back with his fine new album The
Lawless. It's not a pure concept album (there a few tracks
that cover different ground) but for the most part, the life
and death of the old west outlaw is explored throughout the disk.
Deal again worked with the legendary Lloyd Maines on this
project. Not only did Lloyd act as the producer but also as a
backing musician on every track.
Deal, always been known as a clever writer, begins with a
tale about the dangers of gambling with outlaws. His ability
to paint a mental picture is in full bloom on "Quicker than
the Eye" where he describes one mean S.O.B. that one would
never want to find staring them down from the opposite side of
a poker table.
He's worn smooth as a buffalo nickel
He's rough as a prison tattoo
His left hand a hammer; his right a sickle
He's quick and mean as a tornado too
Don't ever gamble with strangers
Chances are you got no chance at all
Things could get hot; you could lose your life
Get lucky and just lose it all
Get real lucky and just lose it all
"Back Slidin' Man" is an up tempo song about a guy
who knows right from wrong but chooses the illegal, albeit more
exciting, path. Deal throws down one of the best choruses I have
heard in a while.
Dust on the Bible, whiskey in my hand
Lord have mercy on a back slidin' man
I think we've all been there before. The eternal struggle
between what we know we should do but not always being strong
enough to make the 'right' decision. However, the character has
a major change of heart after he gets caught by the law.
I been waiting in my cell for an angel to appear
But there ain't been a one to get me out of here
Now I'm dustin' off the Bible with my prayin' hands
Lord have mercy on a back slidin' man
The most moving song on the CD is the slow, haunting ballad
"Freedom For Mary," written by Max Stalling. The track
covers a desperate last request of a wounded, captured outlaw.
The plea is an attempt to end the pain of both his lover (by
giving her a stash of cash and a chance to start anew) and himself
(a gun to presumably end his own life). Kevin's weary vocals,
along with some great harmonies from Terri Hendrix, make the
storyline even more meaningful as you can hear the exhaustion
and pain in each lyric.
In the loft of your barn there's a gunny sack hid in the
hay
The money's your freedom, the pistol is my saving grace
As soon as it's dark, slip back to this window, now don't cry
Then find you an honest man and promise to start a new life
Oh Mary, please set me free
On a great cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Mississippi Kid,"
Deal's mandolin/guitar/steel player Freddie Spears gets a chance
to play frontman and belt out the lead vocals. He does the Van
Zant family proud.
Kevin Deal seems to be doing things right. His writing and
overall sound keeps improving with every record. If he keeps
surrounding himself with great producers and musicians and doesn't
lose his 'just in it for the fun' attitude, I'm sure he will
continue to attract new fans while growing as an entertainer
and story teller.
*www.kevindeal.com
Contact Kevin Minihan at minihan-at-rockzilla.net
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