Music Feedback
New This WeekAround TownMusicFilmArtTheaterNews & FeaturesFood & DrinkAstrology
  HOME
NEW THIS WEEK
EDITORS' PICKS
LISTINGS
NEWS & FEATURES
MUSIC
FILM
ART
BOOKS
THEATER
DANCE
TELEVISION
FOOD & DRINK
ARCHIVES
LETTERS
PERSONALS
CLASSIFIEDS
ADULT
ASTROLOGY
PHOENIX FORUM DOWNLOAD MP3s



Thad Cockrell & the Starlite Country Band
STACK OF DREAMS
(LIL’ HOSS RECORDS/MILES OF MUSIC)

Stars graphics

On his debut, Thad Cockrell captures the smooth, radio-friendly sound the Eagles popularized before they became a huge rock-and-roll band. Top 40 country has been mining this territory for years, but Cockrell understands that this approach doesn’t preclude slipping in some old-time country-music influences. He has a high lonesome voice and a smooth delivery with just enough rough edges — he’ll fall shy of the right note at the end of a phrase where the right note would have sounded wrong. Stack of Dreams never drives past mid tempo; there are no furious country-punk tributes here, just a bevy of comfortable-feeling songs about love, triumph, and heartbreak. "Burdens Rest Easy" bounces softly, pedal steel wrapping around a clicking Telecaster and ringing acoustic guitar. A fluid fiddle line pulls the beat along in "Why?", and simple voices in harmony and spare guitar accompaniment end the album with the gospel tune "He Set Me Free." Nothing too profound — just a peaceful, easy feeling.

BY NICK A. ZAINO III

Issue Date: May 23 - 30, 2002
Back to the Music table of contents.


home | feedback | about the phoenix | find the phoenix | advertising info | privacy policy | the masthead | work for us

 © 2002 Phoenix Media Communications Group