A little bit country, more than a little bit rock and roll - a CD review by Ross Muir When Florida-based rock drummer and studio engineer Sean Shannon got together with country-rooted vocalist and guitarist Billy Varnes, they didn't just musically gel and create a strong songwriting partnership. Nor did they just go on to form the guitar-driven four piece Outbound Road and produce the ridiculously solid debut album that is reviewed here. They also mixed together the best of hard rock, southern rock and American country to produce a fresh perspective on those musical genres - and created a brand new sound, which they call Hard Country. Originally from upstate New York, Sean Cannon Shannon is as comfortable sitting at a studio console as he is sitting on a drum stool. He has worked, recorded and toured with such rock legends as Molly Hatchet and the Pat Travers Band, to name but two. Soft spoken but big voiced Billy Varnes was raised on country music in Florida and is a true southern gentleman with an inherent sense of harmony. Varnes hails from a roots country background but his influences range from traditional country to southern rock to rhythm and blues. And Billy Varnes isn't just a great singer; he's a great guitar player. Varnes six-string partner on Hard Country is Angelo Jannotti, who provides some tasty harmony and lead guitar work to complement Billy Varnes own guitar grooves. Jannotti also plays some mandolin on the album. Holding down the rhythm with Sean Shannon is bass guitarist Jamie Baker. 'Put the Pedal Down' (with guest appearance from Pat Travers on slide guitar) opens up the album in a fine raucous and roll style before the title track slows the pace a little but cranks up the amps. 'Hard Country' tells the all-too-common and current economic tale of tough times for the honest, hard-working man. 'I'm Your Man (No Matter When)' is the first of the rock ballads on the album and lyrically and musically hangs it's cowboy hat proudly on the hook and harmonies of American country. But, as with the lighter rock songs 'A Second Chance Again' and 'Livin' Out My Dream,' the mix of country, melodic rock, twin guitar harmonies and guitar interplay has produced a distinct, Outbound Road blend. 'Home of the Brave' may start like any number of guitar-led southern-rock power ballads but quickly develops into a mini-anthem. Billy Varnes powerful and heartfelt plea to bring back the America we once knew has already got audiences not yet familiar with the song singing along to Outbound Road's take on the American Dream - and where the hell it went. 'A Simple Kinda Love' is another ballad and another example of Outbound Road's crossover style - as much slow rock ballad in it's arrangement as it is country-themed in it's vocal harmonies. 'Half the Man' is one of the stand-out tracks on Hard Country and a personal favourite. A slow-paced southern rock song of respect, paying homage to a father that is owed a debt of gratitude and honoured for the man he was. It's powerful, poignant and hits a musical and personal spot. 'Burning For You' is a punchy, hard melodic rock song that recalls 38 Special at their early 80s peak before they went over the AOR cliff, while 'Home to Me' slows the pace one more time. The latter is another song flying the American country flag, with a tag chorus line of I like things you can't buy with money, I like the simple life with my honey. You don't get much more country that that. 'Home to Me' would have been a great closing track but the band step it up one more time to encore with the feel-good rockin' rhythm and blues of 'Keep Comin' Back.' Hard Country was produced by Malcolm Springer (Matchbox 20, Collective Soul) and Sean Shannon. Springer locked down the basic arrangement tracks while Shannon did the rest of the production including mixing and final mastering. The lyrical themes on Hard Country, along with the country and southern rock influences mean Outbound Road could only be an American band, but the quality of their songs guarantees both band and album will have a global appeal
