By John Muller
Randy Lee Riviere-This Montana/Tennessee singer-songwriter and guitarist, who has just released his powerful fourth solo album, “Farmhand Blues”, has more sides than my neighborhood barbecue joint! Randy, as a wildlife biologist, has been involved with large-scale efforts to protect and restore important elements of the Native American landscape. One example of these efforts involved this leadership role in protecting over 40,000 acres of wildlife habitat with permanent conservation easements. For 20 years or so Randy’s incredible fret work could be heard as part of “Mad Buffalo”, spanning four albums-“A Good Bad Road”, “Fool Stand”, “Wilderness”, and “Red and Blue”. This led to his solo work in 2019, beginning with “Wyoming”, following with” Blues Sky”, “Concrete Blues” and now “Farmhand Blues”.
The title of the latest album nods to the toll human development has taken on Western watersheds. Splitting his time between Montana and outside of Nashville, Randy Lee Riviere writes songs that reflect both his love of wild landscapes and his reflections on the human condition. His inspiration comes from driving around the US quite a bit, the farms, the small towns, even some of the bigger ones, paying close attention to what is happening now, paying close attention to what is happening with the land around us. Tom also likes to reflect a bit while sitting on his porch in Tennessee in all times of day/night, listening to natures symphony, the firefly’s casting their glow, by day taking in birdwatching and the colorful canvas painted by each and everyone.
“Songs come to me, I don’t go looking for them. Since I’ve been working with Tom Hambridge, I’ve been leaning more towards blues. He’s having a big influence on me. We’re doing co-writing and having fun. In addition to being a great producer and drummer, he is a special song writer. I don’t get into all the awards and all the recognition he certainly has received. I don’t let anyone try to prove anything based on their authority. But through and through our work I have been stung by his talents. Tom’s songwriting with me has usually been him dropping little lines into ideas that just work. In very clever ways. Very clever. He has an interesting mind.”
“Farmhand Blues” can’t be boxed, crated, or fenced. Expectations evaporate. Combining the elements of blues rock, blues, country rock, roots/Americana, and more, the tracks have plenty of grit, rugged and rootsy like the land itself. Described as heavy duty, whiskey-soaked blues and roots rock with big guitars and pumping drums, Randy Lee Riviere and his Nashville bandmates deliver head-bobbing tunes that keep fans on their toes. This is raw and honest storytelling, a rich and emotional atmosphere, capturing the angst and heartache of life, with a positive eye towards the future, and more than a few grins and good-natured laughs along the way. As enjoyable as a good whiskey, the energy-driven riffs and irresistible hooks more than satisfy. Just one shot just isn’t enough, meshing together many different genres to create a unique cocktail, a wonderfully authentic experience that refreshingly satisfies.
There are 15 rock-solid tracks here, packed with different things that flew into Randy’s head. How often these days do you get an album with this many first-rate songs piled high onto one release? This is a testament to versatility, creativity, and independence between Randy, Tom Hambridge, and the explosive synergy of this outstanding team of Nashville musicians.
“Downtown” is an up-tempo blues rocker that should get your butts onto the nearest dancefloor, a track about a mountain man who comes out of the woods with a stack of records and finds his way “Downtown”, more than ready to have some fun. I wonder whom this song might be about?
“Big On A Bender”- another grim and gritty blues-rocker with lyrics that are unapologetically honest.
“Birdwatching” creates a kaleidoscope of sound that shines a spotlight on the colorful palettes of nature, giving Randy the wildlife biologist a platform.
“Alabama” certainly echoes the essence of Neil Young and Cray Horse with a contemporary flair, while “Linden Lane” is a swinging southern rocker.
“Midnight” rings loudly. with the sound of chiming guitars framing an encounter with a mystery lady while there is a shift towards a bit of acid rock on the track “Cynical”.
” The music shifts again with some searing slide guitar that blends wonderfully with some fantastic work on the 88’s, the track “If I Were king”, leading into “Mother Lee” powerfully emotional with waves of swirling currents of sound.
“December 1980” is colorfully inventive, the lyrics detailing the assassination of John Lennon, a groovy blues shuffle where the lyrics aren’t afraid to kick you in the head a bit.
Once more the music turns a page with the tender ballad, “You Ain’t No Loving Woman”, a gripping tale of heartache that tugs at your soul, and out of nowhere, riding in from the sunset, comes a love song about a cowboy and his horse, “Pecos”.
Randy amps up the volume once again with the rocker, “On My Way Down” and the closer, “Dovetail Joints” is sung from the heart, a song about old fashioned hard work and just regular folks.
“Farmhand Blues”- Randy Lee Riviere is unleashed and unrestrained on a set of 15 imaginative tracks that soar across the musical landscape with more than enough energy and groove to spare. His raspy singing voice fits in so well with the captivating sounds that are fired up by everyone involved. Great tunes performed by solid musicians, a spirited and highly enjoyable journey that entertains from start to finish. Randy Lee Riviere is a talented force of nature just waiting to be discovered by a wider audience of fans.
Many thanks to these Nashville studio aces – and to Tom Hambridge- for their stellar contributions to these sessions: Doug Lancio, Bob Britt, Michael Saint-Leon,Mike Rojas,and Robert Kearns.