[Southland Blues] Review: Dirt On My Diamonds Vol 2

There's an eight-page booklet in Kenny Wayne Shepherd's latest CD, Dirt On My Diamonds volume 2, which includes the lyrics to the seven songs co-written with Kenny. It was impressive to read through them first before listening to anticipate how Kenny will craft the tunes to give them life.

"The Middle" is a perfect biopsy of our current times with, "I used to watch the evening news and all I saw was reds and blues. And we both know it all comes down to green... The sun ain't coming up or down and we're all stuck here somewhere in between." In "Pressure," Kenny details how, "I don't' need that pressure, pressure weighing down on me telling me who to be." The preceding lyrics emphasize his concerns and, when his guitar lead slips in, it feels as if his notes are being drilled down like a French Press coffee maker. His guitar replicates his mood so artfully.

Kenny's soul and vocals are on full display on "My Guitar Is Crying" as he passionately sings, "I'm hurting there ain't no denying. The truth is that I feel like I'm dying. Even my guitar is crying." Well, cry it does as Kenny fills this track with a unique guitar tone that sounds like it's liquid mercury with its lovely tonal rendering of his lyrics. It is an outstanding track on this CD.

The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band includes Kenny on vocals and guitar, Noah Hunt on vocals, Kevin McCormick on bass, Joe Krown on keyboards and Chris "Whipper" Layton on drums. Six additional musicians provide support on keys, horns and backing vocals.

The eighth ending track, "She Loves My Automobile" a ZZ Top tune without the lyrics listed in the booklet so perhaps this couplet will fill that void, "She said, "What's it going to take for you to lay your top on down?" I said, "Honey, why don't you ask me when we get to the outskirts of town?" Perhaps, being a loving father of six, Kenny omitted these lyrics from the booklet. Dirt On My Diamonds volume 2 is being released on September 20, 2024 and is well worth adding to your collection. If your car has a CD player, driving while listening to Kenny's and Noah's vocals bolstered by his guitar and band most certainly will make your ride more enjoyable.

-Pete Sardon