Arizona Hotel by Hacienda Brothers (CD, Jun-2008, Propar Records)

I Haven't enjoyed a new (new to me anyway) "country" band this much since I found some old Delbert McClinton albums in a cut out bin in the late eighties. I didn't know exactly what to call those albums; except great music. I like this album "Arizona Hotel" way too much to insult it by calling it new country. This has Honky Tonk,soul, country R&B,old style Rock & roll,and at the same time sounds like country before it became phoney. Hints of Merle Haggard,and even at times a sort of "Buck Owens found soul" sound.
The song writing,and instrumentation just fit each other like hand & glove. The fact that the lead singer Chris Gaffney has passed away after a battle with cancer brings an immediacy,and honesty to this album that you can feel in every word he sings. Although I have my favorites on this CD ( Big Town City,Ordinary Fool,Long Way to Town),there is not a bad tune on this CD. I have to wonder where I have been,or where the headlines were hidden about this singer/ song writer. His voice does have a unique quaver to it,but that is part of what makes him sound so authenticly like the real country greats of old for me. This album is a gem! The interplay between the lead guitar,and steel guitar of David Berzansky on "I'll Come Runnin" is the real Honky Tonk deal, with western swing roots. Tight,but not over arranged like so much of what passes for country now.
"Ordinary Fool" should have been on radio repeat lists, great country blues/ soul. So once again I "discover" a band too late to ever get to hear them live. But I will try some of the previous CDs The Hacienda Brothers put out, that's for sure. I highly recommend this album.