Billy Chernoff-A Better Way CD Review
Billy Chernoff
A Better Way
Spotted Pony Records
**
Chernoff’s fifth album, A BETTER WAY, comprises of 11 self penned numbers which deal, in the main, with various aspects of love. The opening track, Let Me Be (With My Darling Once Again) is a convoluted tale of lost love while on the following two numbers Chernoff bemoans his misfortune at having fallen for the wrong women. The remaining songs, with one exception, celebrate the joys of being in love but, liberally laced with doses of homespun philosophy, they sound somewhat contrived and singularly failed to hit home. The sole exception to the love songs is Andy Joe which sets out to tell the story of a downtrodden Indian who accepts his lot cheerfully but ultimately one is left with nothing more than the barest of sketches of this character and the feeling of ‘Who cares?’ Chernoff’s vocal deliveries are pleasant enough without being particularly distinctive and the very nature of the mediocre lyrics make it difficult for him to sound convincing.
Where this album does score, however, is on the musicianship and overall production. Recorded in Nashville, it was jointly produced by Bill Wence, Chernoff and Joe Funderburk. Among the featured musicians are Charlie McCoy, whose instantly recognisable harmonica plays a major role, David Grisham on crying steel and Dobro and Rob Hajacos, whose contribution on fiddle bears special mention. The guitar work, both acoustic and electric of Byrd Burton is also noteworthy, while the vocal backings by Becky Hobbs, Jennifer O’Brien and John Wesley Ryles go a long way in enhancing Chernoff’s own lead vocals. Larry Kelly