The Bourbon Legend  (SHIPS 10/31)	Somewhere In The Middle	Live At Billy Bob's	Truckstop Diaries	Pearl Snaps

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Jason Boland’s reputation as a voraciously untamed songsmith and performer has well preceded him over the years since emerging first in 1999 at the age of 25. With over 50,000 combined units sold independently, and backed by a fierce band of the musically well endowed, the Stragglers are Roger Ray (pedal steel, lead/rhythm guitar), Brad Rice (drums/backing vocals), and Grant Tracy (bass). Additional record contributions goes to Noah Jeffries on banjo, mandolin, and guitar.

Let it be a warning to all: “Mellow” in this case does in no way translate to lukewarm. In fact, the irons in this fire come out blazing with the record’s first track “Hank.” Even upon first listening, if you didn’t know any better, you would swear that Jason Boland is linked to the Jennings’ gene with his baritone saunter combined with Tracy’s bouncy bass line. “Dirty Fighting Love,” co-written with Red Dirt favorite Stoney LaRue, reigns with the grudge of a bitter lead guitar stopping for breaks in the desolate land of a heartbreak hang over. “Love Song” approaches with seemingly exhausted warning of not how love is lost, but rather how it is gained, while “Mary” whines with the prowess of Ray’s pedal steel combined with Rice’s surrendering groove so smooth it would make Jergens jealous. With guest appearances from Billy Joe Shaver, Red Dirt pioneer Randy Crouch, Kathleen O’Keefe, Stoney LaRue, and Reckless Kelly’s Cody Bronze, Somewhere in the Middle is sure not to disappoint.

The title of this album is ironic in the way of its location being somewhat of a familiar place to Jason—who has been caught since early on somewhere between mainstream and up the proverbial creek without a paddle. That is until radio started flexing some muscle by exercising fans requests going way outside the lines of the Top 40 mandate. Initial spins were quick to prove that fans were a little more interested in quality than quantity. The band’s debut album release of Pearl Snaps in 1999 put them on the map of the working musician. Truck Stop Diaries released in 2001 landed them the rarefied #1 spot on the Texas Music chart with “Travelin Jones,” and the Gruene with Envy Album of the Year Award, an awards ceremony based solely on votes by the fans. Live and Lit at Billy Bob’s was their next release in 2002 winning them the Gruene with Envy Live Album of the Year as well as securing them a Top 20 spot with Mexico or Crazy before the single had even been released.

Jason has been called everything from the surfacing king of alt-swing to an outlaw, and in some cases even a liability. But all in all, at the end of the day what you have here are five guys who have been instrumental in putting quality music back on the radio airwaves, on the covers of magazines nationwide and on the lips of music goers everywhere.

Produced by Lloyd Maines, Grammy award winning producer for the Dixie Chicks’ smash album Home, and brought to you by the Smith Entertainment whose series of “Live at Billy Bob’s” releases have boosted Texas music record sales by 53%, fans can expect the new album unleashing by September 21st.