"Saltgrass is actually singer/songwriter Max Rollo and a series of pals and
guests backing him up. This time 'round, he gets help from members of Blue
Mountain, the Mertons, and Kudzu Kings. And damned if they don't have the
cohesiveness of a road tested band. They're full and muscular without being
flashy in the least, echoing Blue Mountain, Uncle Tupelo and Matthew Ryan.
It's mostly electric, but when they break out the acoustic instruments,
like the dobro and mandolin on tracks like "Lucky Me The View," one of the
disc's highlights, they're equally adept. Rollo's vocals, at times, recall
Steve Earle, mostly when he stretches out the notes, adding a skooch more
nasality to his already twang-y delivery. His songs deal with typical
roots/Americana subjects like love and its struggles, and the plight of the
working man. Yet, he never slips into cliché or archetype. "Peel Me Off The
Wall" adds a little Stones-y crunch and a piledriver bass line to the
twang-y side, while the harmonica in "Savior" makes it sound as if it'd be
right at home on Springsteen's The River. The closer, "Pulling Away,"
marries a Velvetsy riff to an otherwise full-on rootsy rocker. Damn fine
stuff."
- John F. Butland
- Exclaim!
"Saltgrass shows why there is so much to like about American music... as enjoyably spare as the ragged Fender amp that graces the cover."
- Andy Turner
- Country Standard Time
"This is one of those few albums you can’t say or write much about, except: buy and listen!"
- Roots Town
... about Halfway Down
"... one of the most underrated records of 1998. Singer/songwriter Max Rollo crafted a stripped down masterpiece with his strong lyrics and haunting Texas whine"
- Alt Country Pages
"Max Rollo is an excellent songwriter... The lyrics
weave powerful pictures that draw the listeners
in until they too feel the depth of emotion the
singer feels."
- Eric Zehnbauer
- Country Standard Time
"True-blue Americana...smooth, Wilco-esque
rock..."
- Flagpole
3 1/2 stars
(Hey,
Bob Dylan got four)
- Buscadero
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