Music Reviews
Jun-Jul 2004
Music of the West
Sing and Swing
By Hugh McLennan
Knockin’ Down Fences
Matt Johnston, Mike Puhallo, Tammy Gislasen, Kraig Jodrey, Ray Goguen, Bud Webb, Aimee Pettersen, Bodie Domingues
 The first cut on this new release is probably worth the price. Matt Johnston is one of the fastest rising young stars in the world of Western music and his song about the Oregon Trail is a real gem. We Are The Sons and The Daughters is an easy rolling, catchy arrangement with a fine blend of acoustic guitar, banjo, harmonica, rhythm guitar and back-up vocals featuring Ray Goguen, Aimee Pettersen and Reg Friesen.
Three of Tammy Gislasen’s well-written songs are here as well including the pensive and catchy Prairie Moon – a cowgirl love song in waltz time and In The Wind – a haunting gunfighter ballad that utilizes her great spoken word delivery.
Another young B.C. cowboy with a fine tenor voice, Kraig Jodrey adds three of his originals Carry On The Tradition, Cowboyin’ Ain’t No Holiday and One More Rodeo.
Also, there is a neat track about the cowboy whose days are winding down in Old Jack, sung by the lead guitar picker with Bud Web and the Outriders, Ray Goguen.
“I was born in the saddle but raised on rock ‘n roll” is a line in a collaborative track from Bud Web and Mike Puhallo that breaks down a few traditions and includes a honking tenor sax along with a foot-stomping beat. And Bud gets some good vocal support from the background singers in a bluegrass-influenced gospel number called Good to Go.
Last but not least, ten of Mike Puhallo’s original works of poetry are included on the disc.
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