Mike Blakely ”THE RAREST OF THE BREED” ©2008 Swing Rider Records Review by Lucky Boyd Now comes the seventh solo project for Mike Blakely, complete with his farthest artistic toss to date, but meeting expectations at every turn. 2006 Texas Music Awards Producer of the Year, John M. Greenburg produces this star-studded offering and paints Blakely with a new drop shadow. What emerges is a softer Blakely, more in touch with the essence of the song than ever before. Blakely’s vocal tails were more deliberate in the past, as he performed each of his well-structured offerings with an actor’s skill. Listen and you’ll hear Blakely actually whisper off notes at the end of a poignant line giving fans their money’s worth of passion and for the first time, I believe, hearing Mike fully immersed with little regard for boundaries. This album offers clever and well-orchestrated intros to a few cuts, a bit of a departure for Blakely, but a welcome addition to his enormously comfortable style. No doubt having the who’s who of Texas music appearing on the disc gave Blakely the freedom to close his eyes and enjoy the process. Each cut seems as if it were recorded with effortless perfection and each listener will be certain Mike is singing only to them. Much of the writing is in Blakely’s familiar genre, but it’s the performances that set this album apart. Greenburg has captured a musical portrait of Mike Blakely with the right filter. Listen for Lloyd Maines, Chris Gage, Dick Gimble, and wonderful flute work by John Falcon as they are but a sample of the talent assembled for this recording. This is the album that Nashville is afraid of. It is polished, pristine, artistic, innovative, and connects with fans. Only in the Friendly State will you find this formula working, and it works for Mike Blakely as well as it does for any singer in Texas. Blakely-Martinez ”BLAKELY-MARTNEZ” ©2007 Independently Released Review by Lucky Boyd Sometimes the motive is as important as the result. It speaks to the driving force behind something and gives you insight into why a certain thing becomes what it is. This album has a pure and simple motive; to be an artistic and heartfelt connection between Mike Blakely and his fans, john Arthur martinez and his fans, and the masses that love hearing them perform together. Artists often release a disc in the hopes of changing their career somehow, but these two already have the dream career. They both do what they love doing and have garnered a wide base of fans doing it. I’ve always said there’s a great career to be had in this business without becoming the next Garth Brooks. Well, these two prove my point. Each has achieved national and international acclaim while remaining friendly, accessible, good guys from Marble Falls, Texas. They love their fans and this disc is a love letter of sorts to them all. The music is what you would expect from the pair, pristinely engineered by none other than Larry Nye, and expertly performed by a minimal group of rock-solid musicians. The feel throughout most of the album is certainly South Texas, which has become a discernable genre largely due to the efforts of Blakely and jAm. The writing, vocal performances, and arrangements are classic Blakely-Marinez and you’ll enjoy the bonus cuts. If you’re an old rocker like me, listen to “Sweet On You” (written by Kent Finlay and Mike Blakely) and imagine it being covered by the rock band AC/DC. I can’t help it; I hear Angus Young shreddin’ this song up! Check out the blues diddy “You Don’t Have To Go Home” and you’ll know why these two are playing sold-out shows all over Texas. Fellow MTM member Mike Siler co-writes a couple of the tunes, and fellow MTM member John Greenburg appears playing harmonica as well. It’s no wonder this is such a great album since Blakely, Martinez, Siler, and Greenburg have all been honored at the Texas Music Awards for their efforts. Mike Blakely and the Whiskey Traders ”LIVE AT THE UPTOWN” ©2007 Swing Rider Records Review by Lucky Boyd Blakely and the Whiskey Traders received the Vocal Group of the Year award at the Texas Music Awards in 2005. Here’s why. This is a live performance recorded at the Uptown Marble Theater and there has never been a better way to enjoy Blakely and WT without paying a cover charge. All your favorites are here; “In The Dust” and “Mejor Que Nada” done the way MB and WT do them live. The studio versions of these songs are great so you should own those discs, but these live versions are a good way to feel the passion Blakely inserts into every performance. Live albums allow the musicians to decide how a song is to be played rather than the producer. Larry Nye is a great producer, but listen as Larry plays guitar on a live recording and you’ll hear the difference. This is the best live album I’ve heard this year. Like Blakely? You’ll love this album. Mike Blakely ”CARELESS MOONLIGHT” ©2006 Swing Rider Records Review by Lucky Boyd Long time MTM member Mike Blakely offers his 2006 release “CARELESS MOONLIGHT.” The opening cut is nothing short of Blakely’s soon-to-be hit song “My Days Are Numbered.” Recorded in Italy with the help of Stefano Bertolotti, this is Blakely’s best release to date. The selections are supreme as Blakely ambles flawlessly through country and a little blues to end up in the soft spot of your musical heart. “Howlin’ At The Moon” shall surely be a follow-up hit for Blakely and “Hecho In Mexico” is a reiteration of the Blakely tunes we’ve come to love from his previous releases. Some old friends appear on the disc; Jeff Posey as co-writer on one cut and John M. Greenberg on backing vocals. Joel Guzman’s accordion work on “Hecho In Mexico” is as tasteful and perfect as it gets. But for a second co-write with Joe Forlini, Blakely pens the cuts and delivers them in his most polished fashion. This album will garner many new fans for Mike Blakely. His current fans await the masterpiece with open arms. One of the best albums I’ve heard this year. Get it now! Previous Notes: From the first chorus, you're going to be hooked on Mike Blakely's music. The opening cut tells of a couple leaving love notes in the dust on each other's trucks, hence the framework for the title of Blakely's latest musical offering, "IN THE DUST" (Swing Rider Records). That's just the beginning of this wonderfully produced Texas collection. Mexican feel accents "Mejor Que Nada" and two-steppin' is the order of the day with cuts like "Whiskey Road" and "White Trash In Love." You can get your cowboy aerobic workout (dance real fast) on great dancehall favorites like "Brand New Pick 'Em Up" and "Scootin' Boot Leather." Blakely captures a bluegrass feel on cuts like "Kiss And Make Up" and "The Night Train And The Moon." The diversity makes this album truly Texan, harvesting the many cultural sounds and roots rhythms indigenous to the region. Mike Blakely has put together a gem that sparkles like the lone star itself. Also available here are Blakely's debut offering, "WEST OF YOU," and his sophomore treasure, "RIDE THE RIVER" (both on Swing Rider Records). The 2004 release "ANY SKY" is a continuation of Blakely's talent, including a co-write with fellow MTM member John Arthur Martinez. Also an acclaimed Western novelist with fifteen titles to his credit, Blakely's books can be found in most bookstores or on his website. Buy the music today.