Hammer of the Honky Tonk Gods
From his pivotal role in Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen--retrospectively recognized as a seminal alt-country band--through his solo career and sideman stints with the likes of Nick Lowe, guitarist Bill Kirchen has primarily been recognized as a master of the high-octane Telecaster.  This release serves as a change of pace, as Kirchen puts the hot licks on the back burner while showcasing his songwriting chops and range as a vocal interpreter.  After the hard-twanging title track provides a hymn to Kirchen's instrument of choice, he turns soulful and spiritual with "Rocks into Sand," shows a populist's social conscience on "Working Man," delivers a version of "Devil with the Blue Dress" that is closer to Shorty Long's R&B original than to Mitch Ryder's rock revival, and ends with a steel-guitar-laced transformation of soul legend Arthur Alexander's "If It's Really Got to Be This Way." The arrangements tend toward stripped-down intimacy, with former bandmates Lowe and Geraint Watkins and labelmates the Hacienda Brothers among those providing support.--Don McLeese