Time to Rock Roll

by Myk-El

There is always some amount of uncertainty where music is going to go next. All we know is that what comes next will be somewhat based on what has come before. New styles are formed out of mixing separate genres. When it's all said and done, though, we want to rock out.

That brings us to 8:05, the time on the broken clock in Sammy Hagar's "There's Only One Way to Rock" (which we actually know to be incorrect. Rock scientists now have documented 67 different ways to rock, though they theorize there may be two more unaccounted for.) Apparently, that is when it is time to rock and it is the title of The Bad Directions' first CD.

This band is one of the strongest arguments I have for not trying to define and categorize everything in music. Dan Garcia brings some of the strongest metal style guitar onboard while providing backing vocals and lead vocals on "Taos." Bradley Weaver plays bass, harmonica, sings lead on most tunes and provides his slighty twangy singer/songwriter sensibilities. Both of these sit on top of Carlos Newman's (now of Buckwild) speed-country drumming. We've called it "Punktry" (a term now adopted by Rolling Stone for Alt-Country acts). Others want to call it Country-Metal and more hard-to-comprehend genre combinations.

Whatever it is, it's fun. There is something to be said for following your muse wherever she leads you. In conversations past, Weaver has admitted he isn't 100% certain what their target market is. I also am not sure how much he cares. He seems to operate on the theory the right people will appreciate what they're doing.

What this CD provides is intensity: Garcia's thrashing guitar demands attention, Weaver understands how to use his distinctive voice to tell a story, and if you aren't held captive by the beat provided by Newman's drum work, you may not have a pulse.

There are also no subjects off limits in song content, there are tunes about breasts ("Sideview"), prostitutes ("Truck Stop Hooker"), drinking, death and more. Some of it leans more toward rock ("Cool Cool" and "Taos"). Others more toward country ("Alligator Cowboy" and "Wagon Wheel"). Some songs work better ("Cool Cool") than others ("An Honest Name") but taken as a whole, it's a fine collection demonstrating what the band is capable of -- including a fun cover of Elvis' "Suspicious Minds".

The toughest part of taking a good live band into the studio is capturing the intensity. The Bad Directions have managed to succeed at this. If you want to find out for yourself, check them out live, then take the CD home. The release party is 10/21/05 at the Soiled Dove in Denver. You can also see their website for future shows or get the CD by clicking here.