Texan singer / songwriter Jimmy LaFave is a wayward man. Just like Lucinda Williams (who previously expressed her admiration for LaFave) his repertoire is rooted in the country, but he does not take much notice of the (Nashville) conventions. Folk and passionate rock are important ingredients. Passion that also resounds in his warm, hoarse voice in which influences from Bob Dylan and JJ Cale can be
… heard. Cimarron Manifesto is the seventh album by this warm-blooded American, and contains nine own songs in addition to three covers, including Not Dark Yet by Dylan. Perhaps the biggest problem with LaFave is that he sounds too traditional (with dobro's, lap steel and the inevitable roaring B3 Hammond organ) for a progressive (americana) audience and perhaps too rough for a purist (country) audience. He falls a bit between the wall and the ship. And when guest violinist / singer Carrie Rodriguez enters, this record gains a lot of character. Character that LaFave itself seems somewhat lacking. (MR)more
