Cyrus rocks
Thursday, July 1, 2010 – Billy Ray Cyrus has done his country thing. He's watched and helped his daughter Miley be a superstar, and now he's becoming a rocker.
Cyrus formed Brother Clyde with Samantha Maloney (Motley Crue, Hole, Eagles of Death Metal) and guitarist Jamie Miller (theSTART, Snot). The band will release their self-titled debut album on Aug. 10 via Buena Vista Records/Fontana. The first single from Brother Clyde, Lately, is available now on iTunes.
"I always loved rock 'n' roll," Cyrus said. "That was a heavy part of what I was as a young juvenile delinquent. I tried from my first album to rock like any other Southern rock band."
Cyrus produced the album and co-wrote most of the songs, several with Morris Joseph Tancredi, a musician he met under unlikely of circumstances. Tancredi was his driver in Vancouver, B.C., during production of the 2009 film, "Christmas in Canaan." Recalls Cyrus, "This kid asks me what I'm doing now musically. I played him the first song I had written for Brother Clyde, "Crawl", and he said, 'I didn't know you did that. That's straight up alternative rock.' Then he said, 'I have some stuff of my own you gotta hear."
The first single was written by Tancredi. After a few acoustic grace notes, the song comes down hard with power chords and a lamentation about a faithless world.
The disc also includes The Right Time, an upbeat duet between Cyrus and a hard-rocking Dolly Parton. "Dolly she said she wanted to rock," said Cyrus, who had been working with Parton on a film. "She came to my studio, brought homemade corn, mashed potatoes and a spread of country cooking. We ate, played guitar for an hour then she just kicked ass. She became like Tina Turner. You could tell she really wanted this."
The album ends with Johnny Cash's "Walk the Line," recorded in 1998 with Cyrus and a line-up of all stars. "I was at a place in my life where I didn't fit in with all the hat acts Nashville had at the time," he said. "I just wanted to rock." He assembled drummer Owen Hale, keyboardist Johnny Neil, bassist Allen Woody, guitarists Mike Estes and Ed King, and harmonica player Michael Jo Sagraves in Johnny Neil's basement.
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Change My Mind
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Reviewed by Jeff Lincoln
No one can accuse Billy Ray Cyrus of not working hard enough. He's put out 12 releases (beginning with 1992's massive "Some Gave All"), all while keeping a regular TV acting slate. But he shows no sign of slowing down, and one can definitely sense that tireless quality here.
There's a "more is more" philosophy coloring nearly the whole first half of the proceedings. Busy country/rock arrangements »»» |
Back To Tennessee
A lot has happened to Billy Ray Cyrus the last few years, going from the star of the family to second fiddle thanks to daughter Hannah. But the success of Miley Cyrus has also fueled more interest in what her dad is doing.
This new album begins with the title track, which is rather mainstream, middle-of-the-road country pop fodder that doesn't really grab the listener. But he gets going on Thrillbilly, with far more bite and oomph to it, a rootsy roadhouse rocker that can't fail even »»» |
Home at Last
Billy Ray Cyrus isn't the most popular member of his family these days as daughter Miley Cyrus, aka Hannah Montana, is doing a lot better with her acting and singing career. Cyrus, who goes Hollywood label wise here, can't point to these 13 songs as his creative streak to change that.
"My Everything" may be the best cut among the 13 with a laid back, but heartfelt performance amidst mandolin spicing up the song. The opening "Ready, Set, Don't Go" also finds »»» |
Editorial: Walking the talk –
When names like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Waylon and the Hag are invoked, you're talking hard core country. These are the touchstones of country , the guys who made country music what it was and still is (or maybe can be). When these folks would sing about being down-and-out and the rough-and-tumble, they knew of what they were singing about. Fast forward a few years to the country singers of today. »»»
Concert Review: McGraw has plenty of fight left –
Despite the fact that Tim McGraw is five years sober, fit as a triathlete and touring behind a number one album, he is still in an unenviable position. As he approaches 50, McGraw has to stay a step ahead of the current crop of young country hunks with TV shows, cross format radio airplay and wider appeal. But as he proved at First Niagara's... »»»
Concert Review: Steve Earle doesn't rest (on laurels) –
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