The Burritos: Sound as Ever

This is a very likable record, and true to the band's name, includes some Gram Parsons covers.

Walter Egan produced the record and performs, including a song he co-wrote with the late Parsons, Carolina Calypso.

My favorite track is Build a Fire, which is one of two among the 15 songs that attempts to take the Burritos legacy somewhere new – in this case, approaching a Red Dirt style.

“When you feel in danger and starting to lose, strike a match, you go a-lighting a fuse. Change. Change your situation.”

Another track that flirts with going somewhere a bit different is How Can You Lose (What You Never Had). It ever so briefly toys with bluegrass styling, but gives in to good ole country rock.

The rest of the album pays tribute to standard 1970s country-rock, as the solid Call It Love, and adds some R&B styling with Out of Left Field, plays with a lot of rock, and a little traditional country.

Anyone looking for a new Burritos record has found it, and with some pioneering country-rock credentials. Besides Egan, the quartet includes Rick Lonow, Chris James and Fred James. You can look ‘em up.

This is not a Burritos entry that reaches a new plateau. It certainly plays just fine where it is.

The theme of this project can be found in Beggars Banquet:

“Raise your glasses to this broke down palace where every beggar has a day. And Here’s  a toast to the hardworking people who don’t get rich, but pave the way.”

And especially:

 “We don’t dine at the richest table. But this beggar’s banquet is just fine.”

With a world filled with uncertainty in every corner, and bad news on every station, can we just enjoy a finely produced country rock record with excellent instrumentation, and good songwriting and vocals?

For my ears, this banquet is just fine.