RUSTY TRUCK

LUCK’S CHANGING LANES—Rykodisc

Rusty Truck founder and frontman Mark Seilger was born in Amarillo Texas and now resides in New York. He is a world-renowned photographer having been the chief photographer for the publication Rolling Stone for 10 years hence the musical connection. He wrote all of the tracks on Luck’s Changes Lanes which was first available as a limited release under the title of Broken Promises.

A DVD accompanies Luck Changes Lanes showing what an imaginative photographer Seliger is but I suspect that the CD is really the crux of the exercise having been recorded all over the States taking over a year and a half to complete using studio’s in places like Nashville, Austin, Miami, New York and Los Angeles. With special guests T Bone Burnett, Sheryl Crow, Jakob Dylan, Lenny Kravitz, Willie Nelson, Rob Thomas and Gillian Welch. A list that suggests not all country which is true, but most certainly all American from a country born guy.

Seliger takes lead vocals on all of the cuts starting with “Every Time” recorded in Franklin Tennessee and featuring Bob Dylan’s son Jakob on background vocals. An enjoyable singer/songwriter type of song that fits into the modern country rock bag with ease. “Cold Ground”, produced in New York by T Bone Burnett, features Sheryl Crow on background vocals, acoustic guitar and accordion has a mystical quality. Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty fame produced “So Long Farewell” in New Jersey. It proves to be a nice ballad with a soothing feel and sympathetic steel guitar from Bob Hoffnar. “Broken Promises” the original albums title track was produced by Lenny Kravitz in New York and project’s superb country in all aspects.

It hardly comes as a surprise to see Willie Nelson on the production and performance credits “1000 Kisses” which was recorded in his Austin Studio. He shares vocals with Seliger and plays acoustic guitar on the track. Mark holds his own with Willie on the vocals and writing. For me this is the standout track on the album from a country point of view. “Fool” stays south for the recording studio—Miami, Florida, to be exact. Produced by Lenny Kravitz, it is soothing and relaxing. “New York Fallen Angel” finds Burning Spear joining Mark on vocals for this catchy New York produced song. The title track “Luck’s Changing Lanes, produced by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings and recorded in Nashville, provides some more stone country with great steel guitar from Russ Pahl of Great Plains fame.

“Malibu Canyon”, recorded in California, has a wonderful Caribbean Islands feel that the likes of Buffett and Chesney would be proud of. But this is Mark Seliger stamping his mark on the proceedings. Seliger goes back to Nashville Tennessee and Gillian Welch/ David Rawlings for “Tangled In The Fence”, Mickey Raphael lends some splendid harp. Jakob Dylan produced “Never Going Back” in California and Andy Gibson’s dobro work is a joy on this Dylanique song. Lenny Kravitz produced the closing track “Prey” in Miami, Florida, to prove that singer-songwriter is at the top of his art with this fine album Luck’s Changing Lanes.

The actual line up of the band Rusty Truck is interesting too with Mark Seliger on vocals and rhythm guitar and the band intends to go on the road to play their lonesome music to a wider audience. I wish them well because the talent is already in built and plentiful with a country feel that should serve them well.

By BRIAN AHERN