Album Review of Life is Now by Back Porch Mary

Back Porch Mary is a Austin based band with a huge independent following. In fact, this is one of the only bands in history to have sold more than 50, 000 records without having an album available for purchase on a store self. Their four records were only available to fans that were able to see them perform life. Since this band is best known for the quality of their live performance, it has proven to provide effective album sales results. If you are a fan of acts such as Ted Nugent, Reckless Kelly, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Reverend Horton Heat or Jason and The Scorchers, you have likely been lucky enough to enjoy the unique experience of seeing this band live. However, for those that have never experienced the pleasure, their Life Is Now is an album you should consider adding to your collection. Life Is Now is an album that features ten new and original songs produced by Paul Noroski. Gary Braun, Danny Smith and James Bookert all help to recreate the grassroots experience that fans have come to expect from this band.

Great music is always produced from an ability to connect with the audience, this is usually done through thoughtful lyrics and melodies that people enjoy singing along with. Songs such as No Bad News Today discuss experiences that the blue collar worker might face on any given day. The charm in this song is the positive outlook that is portrayed by the lyrics. This is a track that reminds me of music produced by Conor Oberest and the Mystic Valley Band. If you are a fan of the Bright Eyes style of music, you will find that there is also something for you to enjoy on this CD. Drove Her to Drinkin is one such song, this track talks about love gone wrong despite the best intentions. Next to You is about love that is so strong that it conquers all that time brings. Shot in The Dark is a song about finding new love and breaking down the walls that can prevent so many people find exploring a possible connection. If you are looking for a classic Country experience, these songs will provide plenty of that for you with their perfect arrangement on this CD. My favorite song on this album is Dry Here In This Town, a song about going through hard times and struggling while others around you seem to be doing so well. While this is a perception that many people have when dealing with black clouds, others are likely having similar experiences. I would rate Life Is Now a 4/5, it is a well rounded CD with a significant amount of replay value.