Reid Perry | Juarez

Published: July 5, 2011

Hardin singer/songwriter Reid Perry has recently released his second effort, this one on the Tate Music Group (TMG) label. Perry sings and plays oodles of guitars and harmonica on 13 originals, along with Chuck Holland on bass and guitar, and Sam Contreraz on drums.

The title tune, “Juarez,” is a visual tale, like most of Perry's compositions, and a country rocker in which the musician (and a lot of others) gets starstruck over a "girl with a borrowed smile." The bluesy number, "Balloons," comes next, with its silky, whispery slide-guitar intro.

Perry sings in a trembly nasal baritone with tenor overtones that’s great for storytelling. He credits Don Williams, a great country crooner, as well as John Prine and Jerry Jeff Walker, whose styles are evident in his songwriting. His vocal inflections remind me of the ’70s British folk-rocker Al Stewart.

Next is the "Cold City Waltz," starting off as a country shuffle, then shifting to a waltz tempo at the bridge; it's an inventive time-change anchored by Contreraz's solid drum work. Souped-up guitar with a Chuck Berry flair infuses the rocker "Nights Like These," and there's a pretty hook to the folk-styled "Only Time."

"Electricity in My Walls" sounds like Perry is singing in unison with himself, a nice effect. Some cool percussion complements the vocals.

Perry's lyrics are dark at times but his vocal command offsets them. On the country-blues rocker "Down Town," for example, Perry wails out "tonight" and "make it all right" with just the right amount of gravel in his pipes. He plays cool slide guitar, too. Sparse production grounds the album, as well.

Visit Perry at www.myspace.com/reidperry.

– Mariss McTucker