Bend In The Road

Mark Stuart, The Bastard Sons Of Dioniso | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 22, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Dualtone Music Group
• ASIN: B002JODUS4
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,162 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ardent, road-hardened country and Americana, September 23, 2009

By 

hyperbolium (Earth, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Bend In The Road (Audio CD)

The [...] Sons of Johnny Cash return with their first studio album since 2005's Mile Markers, and though several players, including bassist Taras Prodaniuk, drummer Dave Raven and guitarist Mike Turner also return, there are some significant changes. First, the band has dropped "of Johnny Cash" from the back end and added singer-songwriter "Mark Stuart" to the front. In many ways the group has been Stuart's vision from the start, as it was his interest in country music that provided the original direction; the step out front mostly acknowledges what's already been true.

The latest edition of the [...] Sons, and Stuart's latest batch of original tunes (augmented by the opening cover of Billy Joe Shaver's "I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal"), are his best yet. The band plays with more verve and Stuart sings with more freewheeling energy than ever. You can hear the influences of Billy Joe, Waylon and Hank Jr. in his tone, phrasing and attitude; his music has become bluesier and more convincing. Perhaps it's the refreshment of moving from California to Austin, but more likely it just the authority of road-hardened talent that allows Stuart to romance the melodies and rhythms of his country shuffles and roadhouse blues.

Stuart's blossoming confidence shows in his songs, which flow from the grooves like old friends. The album's originals open with the banjo, fiddle and guitar of "Restless, Ramblin' Man." Stuart sings against bluegrass harmonies about the uncontrollable wanderlust that's kept him on the road for two-hundred dates a year. He writes of being blindsided, renewed and supported by love, but also of its ephemeral nature and the blue sorrow of its fade. He finds a comforting conclusion to serial monogamy on "Best Thing" and struts through a romantically sunny day on "Everything's Going My Way." Even when he's kicking up his heels to escape the drudgery of the world's ills, such as on the Mellancamp-esque "Fireflies & Corn Liquor," Stuart keeps to the bright side.

The [...] Sons cook up a country rock sound filled with driving beats, second-line rhythms, twangy electric guitar solos and well-placed blue notes. They only slow down twice, for the ballad "Lonestar, Lovestruck, Blues" and the beseeching lament, "Carolina." The latter is surprisingly unresolved and morose, given the album's definitive and upbeat tone. Stuart is on to a next-phase in his music, relaxing into the Austin scene and stepping out from the self-imposed shadow of Johnny Cash. [©2009 hyperbolium dot com]

4.0 out of 5 stars Music for Plaza Dancing, July 10, 2010

By 

G. Larrick "Can't Stop Listenin'" (Cloverdale, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bend In The Road (Audio CD)

Mark Stuart and the Bastard Sons (used to be ...Sons of Johnny Cash, but dropped that and moved into their own skin) showed up last night in little Cloverdale, Cali, the second coolest small town in the country by way of a recent national contest. Friday Night Live in the town plaza brings in good bands all summer, with a space for dancing in front of the stage--and does that space get danced! The Sons owned it last night.

It was my first listen to the Austin group, or as much of it as was on the road for their Northern California tour--four master guitarist and a drummer that kept them in line. I bought two albums--Stuart's first CD, BSOJC's Walk Alone and his current release. Stuart wrote all the songs on the first one. It's a little less weathered and confident than the new disc but the same poetry is there in the lyrics, without any hint of cookie-cutter Nashville stuff.

Songwriting of that caliber would be enough for a career. Stuart doesn't stop there. He handles a clear, sometimes a little gruff, voice with the ease and range of a young Merle Haggard, and with the same compressed feeling.

Bend in the Road travels a fine landscape, with a few more broken hearts showing and the finesse of a band that's tight and interwoven--the left hand knows what the right one is doing. Years on the road don't hurt either. "Restless, Ramblin' Man" stands up to any of the many versions of this report of a traveling man. "Lonestar Lovestruck Blues" slows it down and turns to blues. Stuart knows how to talk about love and love lost. In Cloverdale, he sang one not yet recorded that was my favorite of the night. Billboard, watch for this one!

The story song "Gone Like a Raven," minor in key, showcases the poet/lyricist's skill with words--and adds a touch of the surreal.

Rock `n' roll powers a number of the songs on this album and shows off the band's tightness and solo skills. When the Cloverdale crowd had a choice for the encore, it was late., and those dancing had just celebrated a long last song, fast and loud. Stuart said, "I'll bet you want a slow one." He was shouted down, and rock they did.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars '-,-~~minor change in road direction~~-,-', September 24, 2009

By 

Jay Fuchs "SoundOfWhiteNoise" (Big D, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bend In The Road (Audio CD)

Several months ago, I asked lead singer Mark Stuart what he thought about his band's name. Obviously he's the one who decided on the name and liked the name at the time; but this was back in the mid 90s and opinions about things change over time. He said he was going to tweak the band name and go with Mark Stuart And The [...]Sons. Thumbs up. Keep the edgy sounding name, but tone it down a bit while still promoting yourself. Well, little did I know that there would be a some changes in the music too.
The highly anticipated wait for the new cd was growing long. But the last time I saw these guys live, I was able to grab an advanced "promo" copy of the new disc titled Bend In The Road. I have been listening to it for a few months now. Finally, the official release has just become available this week.

For the most part, the new [...]Sons cd maintains the traditional feel that the other cds have captured. If you're familiar with the sound, you can listen to this new one and you'll be satisfied - for the most part. I think song-by-song breakdowns can be petty and boring to read but I can't help but do it here:
1) I'm Just An Old Chunk Of Coal - Needless, pointless cover. Rather hear John Anderson do it.
2) Restless Ramblin' Man - Awesome song ! One of the few where it sounds better when they stray away from their old sound. That's because it has a good bluegrass feel to it.
3) When Loves Comes A Callin' - Good, solid song. Sounds like older material.
4) The Power Of A Woman - Eh... Take it or leave it. A little different.
5) Lonestar Lovestruck Blues - A nice slow one.
6) Gone Like A Raven - Great song. Sounds like older material.
7) 7 Miles To Memphis - Bad song. I hate blues and this is too bluesy.
8) Best Thing - Great song. Sounds like older material.
9) Fireflies (And Corn Liquor) - Great song. Comparable to older material. Good lyrics, getting a little political and rebellious.
10) Everything's Going My Way - Bad song. Too bluesy.
11) Way Down The Road - Good, solid song. Sounds like older material.
12) Carolina - Gotta have a coupl'a slow ones. Here's another good'un.
Overall, I was pleased with the Bend In The Road even though there are 4 songs I skip through. Somebody new to this band should start with one of the other 3 cds, then move to this one.
For fans of: Texas Country, Roadhouse/Outlaw Country, Red Dirt Music, and possibly Americana and Alt-Country/Y'allternative

- Jay in Texas