Roger Creager,
Long Way to Mexico

Label: Dualtone
Year: 2003

(4 out of 5)

In less than a decade, Roger Creager has evolved from accountant to emerging Texas Music star. His rapid ascendancy is due in large part to "The Everclear Song" from his 1998 debut album. That hit set the stage for a recording career populated with songs mostly about drinking and the fun life.

On Long Way to Mexico, Creager's third studio release and first on Dualtone, he continues that theme. The raucous opening track, "Good Old Days," celebrates Creager's brand of modern music: I've heard stories about the 1950's / Rock 'n roll music all the way to the 60's / Everybody says it ain't ever gonna be the same / But way down South the music got the mojo / It's all homegrown / You won't hear it on the radio / Call it what you want but to me it's the good old days. The drinkin' and livin' theme continues on "I Say When I Drink What I Think When I'm Sober," with Radney Foster joining in on vocals, and the title cut, which proved an instant hit on Texas Music charts.

Thanks to contributions from a diverse cast of songwriters, the themes open up a bit beyond frat-boy good times. Foster co-wrote two songs on the vulnerability of a man in love: "Waiting on You" and "Love Is Crazy." Kevin Fowler co-wrote "Shreveport to New Orleans," a bouncy, Cajun-flavored tune about a man on the run who finds his own Louisiana Lolita.

Yet the most mature song of the bunch is the only one written exclusively by Creager. "Late Night Case of the Blues" reflects on the tough life of the touring artist, with too much time to kill and too great a distance from home: Oh it kills me all these slow nights paying my dues / But there ain't nothing wrong / Just a late night case of the blues / Somewhere down in my soul an angel lives but he lost control / And the devil, he gives the dice a roll and he takes my heart for a spin / But in the morning I'll be fine, the birds will sing and the sun will shine.

With solid performances from a host of session musicians—including John Inmon (Lost Gonzo Band, among others), producer/instrumentalist Lloyd Maines, and angelic vocalist Jessica Murray—Long Way to Mexico successfully melds the rowdy style that put Creager on the map with the more adventuresome and mature efforts that will help keep him there.

Buy: Lone Star Music, Amazon

August 10, 2004