Album Reviews

Michael Dean Damron likes rock, country and blues. So what’s a guy to do? Throw all of those influences together of course and see where you end up. During the first half of “Bad Days Ahead”, that’s definitely on the blues-rock side of things and Damron came back with a couple of scorching tracks like opener “I Love The Rain”. Gritty, honest and raw are three words that come to mind.

The second half is a more mellow affair. Hell, there’s even room for some vocal harmonies on “Hallelujah” which Damron sings with Heidi Hellbender that do wonders for the song. And I’ll be damned if “Baseball Season Ends Early” wouldn’t have fitted right in on any Drive-By Truckers album.

He’s not quite up there yet along with the other big guys but his debut with Thee Loyal Bastards is an impressive calling card nonetheless.