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The Dullards have a loyal roots rock following but will also appeal to that demographic that likes country, folk and folk-rock. You can hear the influence of Little Feat and Tom Petty. You would not be surprised to be channel-surfing and see them on Austin City Limits.

Guitarist-songwriters Alistair Millar and Guy Benson have woven together a string of easy-to-hear songs such as “Sour Mash and Gasoline”, “The Shrink”, and “29 Times” that are catchy, unpretentious and accessible. No over-production here, just the four-piece bar-band sound.

One cut, “Willard’s”, is some good vocal story-telling: not an earth-shaking morality tale, but rather a story about some guys on the road. “The treatment is working/I must have the disease.” Willard’s is a place; what kind of place we don’t learn. It is just a place they are leaving. The pace of this song, like the others, is meant for the car. The song is not long, but it’s not in a hurry either. Anybody should want enough Dullards songs to get you to wherever you are driving. It seems to me that it would be particularly apropos to be listening to “Sour Mash and Gasoline” while driving Route 66, or perhaps en route to the Jersey Shore. With the AM radio on, of course.

From the Black Cat to Public TV, the Dullards are visible on the Washington, DC circuit. They have been in the studio recording; this is good because I have a long road trip ahead of me and I don’t think the Dullards’ catalog will get me that far.

“Willard’s” is a free download on Comm-Cuts #2, teamed with the late great Eric Caroll’s “At Da Doc” and Some Nashville Guy singing “One More Tonight.” If you come upon roots rock collections, look for the Dullards there.

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On March 3, 2009, U2 released their 12th studio album, No Line on the Horizon.

It’s been a while since their last release, 2004’s How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, but it was worth the wait.The album, with 11 tracks, contains classic U2 music.

The Irish rockers get back to basics with their strongest offering in years. It was recorded in Dublin, New York, London and Fès, Morocco.  And the good news is that Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, and Steve Lillywhite all helped to produce the album.  But I don’t think this is the best U2 album since Eno and Lanois first worked with the band on 1984’s The Unforgettable Fire.

Magnificent, with its drum crescendos, trademark guitar riffs, and a soaring Bono vocals, is easily the best song on the album and is the second single to be released.  The first song released, Get On Your Boots, is actually a good track; this is the song the band performed at the Grammys on February 8.  The song is classic foot tapping music.  However, Boots only hit No. 37 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Breathe is a great song, and it suggests that the band’s classic approach can still sound contemporary. Cedars Of Lebanon, a song about war and violence, ends the album on a sad, thoughtful note. U2 obviously has that classic Irish wit with lyrics such as “the right to appear ridiculous is something I hold dear” in the song, I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight.

Unfortunately, sales have not been as high as expected since the release of the album.The album only sold 484,000 copies in its first week of sales. Not too many bands would consider 484,000 albums sold a disappointing number.However, U2 is not just any band. The Irish band’s last album, 2004’s How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, sold 840,000 copies in the first week.

But in my opinion, apart from a couple of the tracks being a bit too long and the cover art being a bit boring, the album – over 54 minutes – is a worthy addition to U2’s collection.

Visit the Nostalgia Guy Music blog for more music reviews and information.

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