Right from the get-go, an opener that replicates the big country landscape of the theme from The Magnificent Seven, the Green Pajamas‘ newest album, Green Pajama Country, fits many things into its saddle bags. From the desperate Appalachian moan of the Carter Family (“Pass Me Another Whiskey”) to the dim lights, thick smoke and loud, loud music once nourished by Webb Pierce and Faron Young (“Desiree”), Jeff Kelly’s compadres wear the colors of honky-tonk heroes well. “Dark Water (In The Wires),” the latest single from the album to get the big hoo-hah video treatment, revives the pre-Raphaelite folk rock that’s kept the GPJs vital for almost 30 years. Kelly giving it to you straight from his bruised heart, great harmony vocals from Laura Weller, nice Floyd Kramer/Nicky Hopkins-like piano trills by Eric Lichter, barefoot kick-drum by Scott Vanderpool and Joe Ross’ McCartney-esque bass—what more (aside from a six-pack of Lone Star) do you really need tonight, bubba?
