CD Review

A wide-open, sun-baked land flows from my speakers. It’s not that hot, dry land, but the smooth cool night, and it’s called Moses Guest. Their latest release is yet again full of Rick Thompson’s fiery keys and Graham Guest’s multi-talent showcase providing a pleasant stay, this time at the Guest Motel.

“2 of Everybody” punches with guitar licks and rolls over with a steamroller bass. The powerful “Victim of Hours” begins with a rambling of sound, and heads down a different path - almost a Skynyrd-meets-String Cheese direction. You can almost see Guest singing, his eyes closed, the corner of a smoke filled bar closing around him. Flowing into “Bird in My Hand,” the only instrumental track, the sections play nicely into each other with a similar refrain before “Jackson” sweeps in and around you, where you want it to go it does. James Edwards does a nice job working with Guests’ vocals and matches him in just the right pitches and places. If this song doesn’t send you home, nothing will.

“Double-Double-Double God” scratches the surface of a ripping guitar/keyboard jam waiting to happen, with soulful vocals comparable to Mofro’s JJ Grey. “Dead Again” displays more lyrical depth and the end of the song throws the listener for another unsuspected loop. They launch into what must be the 4th key/guitar jam of the album, leading you to believe it must have been hard to record this without just going with the moment and jamming it out. Finally, their Texas roots shine through on the last track, “Baby, Don’t Take Your Love Out On Me,” - a semi-alt-country tune, and instant classic among boot scooters.

Pop Guest Motel in on a Sunday morning or a late hot summer evening and let Moses Guest bring some Texas hospitality to you.