Pasadena Weekly Jan 5 06

Rick Shea & The Losin' End, Bound for Trouble (Tres Pescadores)

  As with any story, the order in which songs and thematic threads are introduced on an album can deepen the meaning of the entire piece. Covina-based country-rocker Rick Shea has not only remixed and reissued his acclaimed 2000 disc “Sawbones”- arguably his strongest solo release – but recontextualized it as well by shuffling songs and adding three new ones: the rocking title track; an upbeat duet with Seattle singer-songwriter Christy McWilson, “Never Been in Love”; and a prescient bit of balladry penned a decade ago, “Texas Lawyer.” The new songs pack more meat into an already hearty country-rock-folk-blues stew, while the fresh mix and resequencing heighten the dynamics and beam new light on Shea's songwriting craftsmanship.

                  (Bliss)

FREEFORM AMERICAN ROOTS CHART REAL MUSIC PLAYED FOR REAL PEOPLE BY REAL DJs

FAR #77 (DEC 2005)
FAR & AWAY: BEST OF 2005

This Month Last Month Album
1 15 Nancy Apple & Rob McNurlin: River Road or Rail (Ringo) *DB/*JD/*RH/*T&J/*TA
2 1 Bobby Earl Smith: Turn Row Blues (Muleshoe) *CS
3 2 Blaze Foley: Wanted More Dead Than Alive (Waddell Hollow) *CP/*DO/*NA
4 9 Merle Haggard: Chicago Wind (Capitol) *OO/*TR/*WR
5 7 Martí Brom Sings Heartache Numbers (Goofin’ [Finland]) *DT/*JP
6 3 VA: For A Decade Of Sin (Bloodshot) *RV
7 - Lauren Sheehan: Two Wings (Wilson River) *JA/*TG
8 8 Rick Shea & The Losing End: Bound For Trouble (Tres Pescadores) *FS
9 - VA: Our New Orleans 2005 (Nonesuch) *B&C/*TJ
10 14 Hank Thompson: My Personal Favorites (Thompson Enterprises) *BP
11 11 Dale Watson: Heeah!! (Continental Song City/Koch) *LB

                                 #125 - Aug/September 2006

Rick Shea and the Losin' End Bound for Trouble

Tres Pescadores tpcd-6 2005

    Bound for Trouble is a re-mixed and remastered version of Shea's 2000 album called Sawbones. Three songs have also been added, namely the title song, Nick Lowe's "Never Been in Love" which features Christy McWilson on vocals, and a live acoustic version of "Texas Lawyer." Shea always surrounds himself with great musicians, such as Dave Alvin (on a couple of tracks) and fiddler Brantley Kearns (on most other tracks). The only song not written by Shea, other than Lowe's, is the old Lefty Frizzell hit "Saginaw Michigan". Shea is blessed with a strong, resonant voice and he shows impeccable taste as a producer and arranger. He has released several classic albums since this album was originally released, and this revised reissue is a worthy addition to his body of work.

                                                                                                       - Paul E. Comeau

                                                                                                        (Comeauville NS, Canada)

more reviews and radio reports for Bound for Trouble at Sawbones