Charlie Robison plans new CD for '09

High Life

Even though he had a couple of minor hits at the dawn of the millennium, Charlie Robison is probably best known as the ex-husband of Dixie Chick / Court Yard Hounds' Emily Robison. Unfortunately there's not much on his first CD for Thirty Tigers likely to change that perception. The most interesting thing on this collection of covers is the actual CD cover - a big-footed, Stetson-sporting, cigar-chomping cowboy struts in front of a psychedelic cactus in the classic Keep on Truckin' pose. ...

Beautiful Day

You know you're in a minority when you can call your ex-wife a Dixie Chick, but Charlie Robison is dealing with that reality in his new album. And while it's not exactly a happy-go-lucky album despite the amicable split, Robison, with the help of guitarist Charlie Sexton, puts a slightly cheery take on things with the poppy, chipper Beautiful Day. Unfortunately, Yellow Blues resembles a poor man's take of Steve Earle's I Feel Alright. The strength of the album comes from the ...

Good Times

Family reunions must feature some really excellent jams in this clan. Both Charlie and Bruce Robison are outstanding musicians, singers and writers and both have married very well, at least in that regard. Bruce is married to songstress Kelly Willis, while Charlie Robison is hitched to Dixie Chick Emily Erwin Robison, whose band mate's father is Lloyd Maines, who is co-producer on Charlie's new disc and also adds pedal steel and Dobro to the mix. This native of Bandera, Tex. ...