Notorious Cherry Bombs,
Notorious Cherry Bombs

Label: Universal South
Year: 2004

(4½ out of 5)

Back in the early 1970s, some members of Emmylou Harris's Hot Band formed the Cherry Bombs to help support Rodney Crowell as he launched his touring career. With a lineup of Crowell, Vince Gill, Tony Brown on piano, Richard Bennett on guitar, Hank Devito on steel guitar, and Emory Gordy and Larry Londin in the rhythm section, the Cherry Bombs made quite a stir. But they disbanded after a couple years, each headed to successful careers in and out of the studio, with no recorded material left behind.

More than 20 years later, the Cherry Bombs (now the Notorious Cherry Bombs) have at last produced an album together. Crowell and Gill alternate lead and harmony vocals and garner most of the songwriting credits. Brown, Bennett, and Devito return as well, joined by Eddie Bayers on drums, Johnny Hobbs on piano, and Michael Rhodes on bass. (Londin died in 1992. Gordy has retired.)

With so many accomplished musicians joining forces, it's no surprise that the album features a broad range of material, from the '50s style doo-wop of "Wait a Minute" to the sentimental love song "Making Memories of Us."

The best track, the Hank Williams-meets-outlaw country "It's Hard to Kiss the Lips at Night that Chew Your Ass Out All Day Long," is sure to garner significant airplay. And deservedly so, as the song features laugh-out-loud funny lyrics (If some day they drop the big one / I'd say sweet Jesus she's gonna finally leave me alone) and an arrangement so loose that you can practically envision the band members grinning at one another.

With so many talented artists working together, it would be easy forgive the Notorious Cherry Bombs if the results were mixed. But from beginning to end, the songwriting and performances are top-notch.

It's time to welcome a new super-group, one whose debut has been a long time coming. But that debut was well worth the wait.

Buy: Lone Star Music, Amazon

July 10, 2004