Tony Furtado
These Chains
Funzalo Records
Celebrated session slide guitarist and banjo player Tony Furtado’s solo debut is a hugely enjoyable selection of roots-y country and folk, demonstrating not only his talents as a musician but also as a songwriter.
The key thing here is the diversity. Traditional country cuts like the instrumental “Doc’s Bog” and the Waylon Jennings cover “Brand New Goodbye Song” are juxtaposed nicely with the more contemporary “The Prisoner” and the excellent “Standing In The Rain.” Elsewhere, the title track showcases Furtado’s guitar virtuosity and penchant for a rocking, upbeat vibe, while “Need A Friend” wouldn’t be out of place on a Jackson Browne album.
The host of music luminaries Furtado has enlisted to play on These Chains (including Jules Shear, Skip Edwards, NRBQ’s Al Anderson and Badly Drawn Boy’s Gia Ciambotti) provides even more reason for roots enthusiasts to check out this album, and in an era where iPods have helped steer the focus away from “the album,” it’s nice to hear an artist committed to the ethos of a record which showcases his diversity.
Funzalo Records: http://www.funzalorecords.com
