Charlie Robison – ‘High Times’ (album stream) (PopMatters Premiere)

On his rockin’ new Americana album, High Times, Charlie Robison covers some of his favorite tunes. “Look Out Cleveland”, penned by the Band’s Robbie Robertson, is a surefire highlight, as is Doug Sahm’s “Nuevo Laredo” and Bob Dylan’s “When I Paint My Masterpiece”. He honors his sister as well with takes on a number of Ludwick’s tunes. Great stuff all around that makes you feel like you’re downing Lone Star longnecks at the local Texas roadhouse.

Robison tells us about a few of these songs that mean so much to him. “Brand New Me” is “a song, that in the title hints at redemption, but in reality you’re still at the same end of the same old consequences and back where you’ve always been. No matter where you go, there you are.” Meanwhile “‘Look Out Cleveland’ is probably my favorite song that covers all bases. Story, musically as outside the box as you can be, and what’s more exciting than weather?