Out on the Road
MEMPHIS TRAIN UNION
(Nine Alarm Records)
Known on the local scene for his work with bands like Leonard Croon and Hangtown, singer/songwriter Dave Korman has reached a new highpoint with Memphis Train Union. Split between Stones-y blues, noir-ish honky-tonk and highway-cruising folk rock, the Dunedin trio's debut album, Out on the Road, is consistently winning. Dobro, piano and harmonica augment the traditional guitar-bass-drums foundation, resulting in songs that are immediately familiar but never sound stale, thanks to Korman's detailed, emotively sung tales of trying to contact an ex via a "Letter to Las Vegas," spending life "Out on the Road" or getting "Drunk in New Orleans." 3.5 stars
This article appears in May 7-13, 2008.