Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, Family Matters is Southern Rock legend Billy Crain’s fourth solo effort. With influences all across the board, including Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Mark Knopfler, and The Allman Brothers Band, Crain has played with some of the most pop influential bands and figures while jamming with some of the most straight forward revolutionary rockers in rock history.
Crain has played with the Dixie Chicks on the road and in the studio and played slide guitar on Shania Twain's The Woman In Me. He has also played with the Outlaws and the Henry Paul Band and toured extensively with Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers Band, The Charlie Daniels Band, The Rolling Stones, The Marshall Tucker Band, ZZ Top, Ted Nugent, Blackfoot, The Cars, Molly Hatchett, Rossington Collins Band, Alabama, Merle Haggard, and Van Halen as well as headlining many shows. With a long list of accolades, Crain has won three BMI Country Songwriter Awards, one BMI Pop Songwriter Award, one BMI Millionaire Award with 14 million units sold.
The vocals on Family Matters are energized by the strong musicianship from the players, but the singing still comes off as monotonous. With spiraling guitar riffs and jam sessions in almost every song, this should not come across as a problem. The loud music comes out as more than promising. Carefully layered with a classic rock and roll sound, there is certainly a country-twang to this mixture. With a strong backbeat to what he has to say, Crain’s sound is uplifting and carefully crafted. With clever twists and aching hooks, the songs’ lyrics have a globalized message.
In “Family Matters," there is an adamant response to Crain’s statement that music matters as much as family. It is a strong, piano-heavy piece with lasting guitars jamming in the background. And the vocals are a verbose attempt to string the harmonies on piano and guitar together.
In “Hurricane Helen," Crain speaks openly about the disastrous effects a hurricane has on the characters. The hurricane acts as a central force in the song. Crain takes advantage of the physical effects of a hurricane and uses them in his song. The rocking sound doesn’t take a moment to stabilize, but the structure of Family Matters makes its presence known in this song. Surprising, the rest of the album follows the template of "Hurricane Helen," and what seems to twirl abysmal in one song gladly lasts for the rest of the album.
Coping what a standard rock and roll style, Crain does his best in bringing his creative force up a notch. His standard approach to rock and roll doesn't necessarily force him into the genre, but it does make his sound as something to look out for. Family Matters was released on Sept. 14 on SlideBilly Records. Be sure you drop by for a listen!