Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers - Sonoran Hope & Madness (CD)

All Music Guide

Roger Clyne the Peacemakers serve up almost stereotypically American roots rock on this record, with its use of country, Tex-Mex, and blues to spice what's essentially a straight-ahead American rock base. Looked at in its most positive light, this is earnest and heartfelt, and played with tight conviction. Looked at in its cruelest light, it's the kind of overwrought Americana that's heartlessly yet accurately lampooned by some comic commercials on overseas cable channels. There's really too much of a Southwestern flavor to the music to put it in the heart of the heartland. But it is a bit like hearing Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, John Mellencamp, and the like distilled and polished with a blast of desert wind and Arizona guitar twang. Clyne and his gang are better when they accent the softer border music ingredients than when they go for ballsy rock roll, which is when their game gets too blustery. Songs with a little storytelling flair and delicate Tex-Mex accents, like... "Better Beautiful Than Perfect," show Clyne to his best advantage; the instrumental snatch of "Home on the Range" is just annoying, gratuitous Americana, though. - Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide Read more Less