Ron Pope & The Nighthawks

Ron Pope has been around for a while releasing albums and singles and racking up some impressive figures. With this album, and The Nighthawks, Pope has turned from his pop comfort zone towards America’s Country heartland for inspiration. Looked at cold it could appear a cynical move; Country and Americana are in rude health at the moment, and the figures are eye-boggling. However, it’s only fair to judge the music on its merits rather than motives, and on that Ron Pope holds his own.

Opener Southern Cross is the ideal introduction. The template is set and the patterns are followed: steel and acoustic guitars, those golden harmonies and oh so familiar rhythms. It’s great but there are probably dozens of bands in the southern states that are playing very similar songs.

So as we go through the album there’s not a lot here that will be unfamiliar to anyone with even a cursory knowledge of Country music. That’s not to say it’s a waste of your time or a bore, as there’s more than enough here to ensure its played more than once or twice. Bad Intentions is a brassy New Orleans, bourbon soaked bar-room stumbler, the stark acoustic Hotel Room and the glacial tenderness of Lies and Cigarettes.

There’s no points for originality but the sincerity and respect for the music is palpable throughout the album. It sounds like they were having a good time too!