Cole Deggs & the Lonesome Cole Deggs & the Lonesome [RCA Label Group] 2007
Review by Cheryl Breo
Cole Deggs And The Lonesome have just released their self-titled debut album. The band is made up of two sets of brothers and a friend, Cole Deggs, who handles lead vocals and his brother Shane. The other set are Jimmy and David Wallace, with their friend, Brian Hayes completing the line-up. This combination of talent mixes up some great aggressive southern rock, while keeping to it's country roots with their sweet harmonies and story-telling ballads.
First out of the box is the debut single, "I Got More", with Cole's deep rich vocals showcasing some very powerful lyrics. This love song artfully tells us to never judge aa book by it's cover, it's the sotry inside that is the heart of that book...so much 'more' then the cover. Cole Deggs And The Lonesome do some real southern rockin' in "Girl Next Door", Out Of Alabama" and "No I Haven't Stopped Hurtin'", all tracks about memories of love, but with rollicking guitar riffs and lean mean drums, keeping your feet tapping out the beat.
But Cole shows off the power of his rich vocal abilities in the ballads. Twelve Ounces Deep", a mournful 'drinking song of lost love' "struggling to breathe in this river that's only twelve ounces deep" and "Nothing Out Of Something", with heartfelt, sad lyrics of how we often mountains out of mole hills, "making hell out of heaven".
The band also shows us the flip side of love too...the happy side, in "Huggin The Blacktop", a romantic, soulful track with beautiful guitar interludes, about a traveling man who can't wait to get home to the one he loves, and "Do You Ever Think of Me", remembering the sweet taste of love and passion, now a bittersweet memory, never forgotten. The romantic "Girl Like You" is a vocally rich, soulful ballad, a perfect "hold her close, dance floor" track to lose yourself in each others arms.
My real standout track is "Everybody's Beautiful To Someone" with it's amazingly honest lyrics, reminding us all that someone who ONE person wouldn't give a second look to, is another person's precious treasure. A powerful, heartful song, blinding us to the prejudices of today's world.
After listening to this debut CD several times, Cole Deggs And The Lonesome are a band that is certainly going to be one to be watched...and one I hope mainstream country embraces, because their music is unique, their sound awesome. Not bad for the first time out of the gate, guys!
