Review: Soul man Bramblett gives average folks a voice

On 'œPine Needle Fire,'ť Georgia soul man Randall Bramblett's warm, weathered tenor gives voice to average folks who are hanging on, and he provides a beat to keep them going.

Bramblett laments mortality, the rat race, co-dependency and misplaced passion. His solution? Dance those blues away.

Nearly everything comes with an irresistible groove, as has been the case for most of Bramblett's 45-year recording career. He and his crack crew of studio musicians do swampy, sweaty, Southern-fried funk, and like a great bar band they're both loose and tight, while riding a gospel undercurrent. The chorus to the opening tune, 'œSome Poor Soul,'ť echoes 'œAmazing Grace,'ť and there are several songs of secular inspiration.

Nick Johnson contributes stinging guitar, and horns - including Bramblett's tenor sax - add momentum. The result is a succession of toe-tappers and hip-shakers with singalong chorus.

'œBuilt to Last'ť lives up to its title, thanks to a six-note rock riff as its foundation. 'œRocket to Nowhere'ť swings with Steely Dan-style syncopation, references 'œKid Charlemagne'ť and serves up a Fagen-esque aside: 'œAt least they didn't look in the glove compartment.'ť

Imagine a world where musicians play concerts: These songs would have folks on their feet.