Buffalo Dreams by Michael Thomason

It's a strange thing that a disc of music so purely American was recorded in Germany.

Right from the first swinging bars of "Anywhere By You," with its playful use of French lyrics to give it a trace of a Cajun flare, it's a remarkably listenable album, moreso considering its limited and REALLY independent release (no record label appears on the liner insert or the outside jewel cover - the word "GEMA" appears on the disc itself - the "all rights reserved" legal disclaimer appears in English and German). The professional quality is well suited to any major label out there. Michael and his band are TIGHT, extremely polished, and they lay so well it's like listening to anything being fed through a major label's "sound quality machine." But this is no construct of an engineer and an image maker. I fully expect that what I'm hearing on this disc is what I'd hear if I were standing in a honky-tonk watching them play. The second track on the disc is the title track, the "Theme from Buffalo Dreams," which is a delightful, haunting Western song that touches this western gal's heart.

Tremendous plays on words run through Michael's songs, such as his sorrowful "Drifting with the Wind," featuring some beautiful pedal steel playing from Rüdiger Karahn (who also puts in some time on rhythm guitar), surprisingly lighthearted "Damned If You Do," and the incredible "Green to Whiskey Eyes," a truly authentic western swing two-stepping tune with fine, fine lyrics. Michael is a tremendously skillful writer. He works his words deftly, a craftsman, carefully putting each phrase right where it should be. With "Now There You Go Again," "Break It Easy," and "Open Road," he wraps things up neatly, and closes it all with the Bob Dylan cover.

Overall, this is a truly excellent disc. I enjoyed listening to every single track, and have decided Michael Thomason belongs in my "most listened-to" racks. I'm really happy he "fell in my lap," so to speak, and I eagerly look forward to hearing more from him. I hope others find him, too. Check out Michael at www.michaelthomason.com

Kathy Coleman Take Country Back April 2002

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