Charlie Robison,
Good Times

Label: Dualtone
Year: 2004

(4 out of 5)

While he has married a Dixie Chick and become a father in the last few years, Charlie Robison wants you to know that he's still a fun-loving guy. He makes that statement loud and clear in "Good Times," the title track of his Dualtone debut: We gonna be like an ice cream cone / Better eat it quick or it'll be long gone / Buy me a whiskey get yourself stoned / And we gonna have a good time.

While the party theme pops up a couple more times throughout the album, on Good Times Robison emerges as an overall more mature and sensitive singer/songwriter.

Sure, there's the raunchy double-entendre of "Love Means Never Having to Say You're Hungry" and the celebration of teenage drinking in "Something In the Water." But there's also a search for lost love on the slick "El Cerrito Place" and a touching note on the importance of family memories in "Photograph."

Sprinkled throughout are several songwriting gems. The maverick storytelling of "New Year's Day" echoes 1970s Townes Van Zandt or Guy Clark. Waylon Payne's "The Bottom" is a heartbreaking glimpse into a life spiraling away, awash in an alcohol salve. "Always" is a glimpse at redemption, with lovers reuniting despite their failings.

Robison is again expertly backed by The Enablers. Lloyd Maines, who seemingly produces every major Texas Music release anymore, shares producer credits with Robison. While Natalie Maines contributes backing vocals to "El Cerrito Place," Robyn Ludwick's husky harmony on three other tracks ends up stealing the show.

Charlie Robison may not be the freewheeling partier of days gone by, but he has become a better singer and songwriter. Good Times is a major leap forward, finally an album that shows Charlie has the songwriting chops to match his brother Bruce.

Buy: Lone Star Music, Amazon

September 29, 2004