Music-Reviewer.com CD Review

Burrito Deluxe DISCIPLES OF THE TRUTH CD Review Music-Reviewer.com

May, 2007
by John Soltes

Burrito Deluxe’s second album, Disciples of the Truth, is surprisingly pretty good.  It’s country to the core and slightly imitative of more well-known acts such as Kenny Chesney and Brooks & Dunn, but for the most part, the boys of Burrito Deluxe make good on their 12-track album.

There is much to be said about the status of country music today.  To keep the argument short, I believe that this time-honored genre has switched its focus.  In the past, with such Outlaw greats as Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash, lyrics were more important than vocals.  Today, the reverse is true.  You’ll get beautiful voices singing about beer, flip flops and American values.

Burrito Deluxe harkens back to the era of meaningful lyrics.  Each of their songs, not all written by the band, tells a story with a message behind its words.  In addition, the lead vocals of Carlton Moody match the excellence of its lyrics.  By and large, this is a solid album.

On track four, “Disciples of the Truth,” Moody begins a yarn so simple in its telling, but profound in its imagery:

“I walked straight off a cornfield up north I-45 / Passed a marriage and a day job into the honkytonks and dives / And I picked up a guitar and strapped it on my back / Then I put a pen to paper and fell into the cracks”

It’s not that country isn’t producing great lyrics like this, but the examples are few and far between.

One of the best songs on the album is “Encino.”  The beginning instrumental work is reminiscent of a hootenanny, with an acoustic guitar, mandolin, pedal steel and keyboard going crazy.  But then, when the lyrics hit, the song slows down into a beautiful love story that takes place on the road.  The resulting song is one of yearning and learning on the highways of America.  It reminded me of Garth Brooks’ “Callin’ Baton Rouge.”

Moody sings on the track:  “Can’t keep Rosie off my mind / Makes it hard to move on down the line / But I’ll have to set her free / I might face the hangin’ tree / But she’ll get over me in time”

If you want the best example of Moody’s vocal strength, take a listen to track five, “Wichita.”  The instruments are turned down so his crooning voice can take precedence, and the creative choice to do this is masterful.  Each time he sings, “Should’ve stopped in Wichita,” you not only get a feel for his vocal power, but you are right there with him – feeling the emotions of the lyrics.