Paranoid is Leroy’s third album and it’s amazing. He pushes his signature sound even further, turning his bluesy riffs into whiskey-soaked psychedelic romps without ever straying too far from the classic country sound from his days with Shooter Jennings.
I do find it strange that since leaving Shooter’s side, Leroy has released three albums of great songs and Shooter hasn’t been heard from. Who was the real talent?
Featured on the release are songs like “Paranoid” and “Back Door Betty,” which sound like they are being played in a backwoods bar room to a bunch of drunken, rowdy hillbillies. In the song “Back Door Betty,” Leroy sings about the joys of carrying on with a married woman. “Slow Train” and “I Can’t Take Me Anyway” sound like real, honest authentic country music. A laidback vocal delivery and great lyrics about drinking and misery bring these misfit tales to life. With “Rock Bottom,” Leroy shows off all his skills.
He is a songwriter extraordinaire with a flair for performance. The sing-along chorus is just the right touch, which turns this song into a true gem. On “Love is For Fools,” he slows it down a bit and channels Otis Redding. The emotion he puts into the vocals and the guitar make you take notice and say “Damn.”
Leroy is such an amazing talent. He can sing and play any style and make it sound original. He and Eddie Kramer (the producer) keep it real. Eddie Kramer has produced albums for Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. Leroy is a blend of both of those acts — a little bit of rock, a little bit of blues and a whole lot of fuck you. Paranoid is on my short list for album of the year in 2009. Give it a listen and decide if it makes yours.
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