THE FLATLANDERS
Now Again (New West)
Reviewed by Eric Steiner

---

Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock have finally reunited as The Flatlanders, more than 30 years after their debut 8-track that's long been a cult favorite among roots-Americana fans. After their first release they went their separate ways to distinguished careers as singer-songwriters. Joe Ely's work has included genre-defining honky tonk from Austin, and Jimmie Dale Gilmore grew into one of Texas' most accomplished singer-songwriters. Butch Hancock's songwriting has been covered by Ely ("She Never Spoke Spanish to Me") and Emmylou Harris ("If I Was a Bluebird"), among others. Since Now Again first hit the streets, the CD has been blazing a trail faster than a West Texas prairie fire with top rated rankings on charts like Americana Radio, Billboard Top 200, Billboard Country Album, and Billboard Heatseekers. Unless The Flatlanders release a quick follow-up before the end of the year, Now Again is one of my favorite releases of 2002 and just might land on my Top Five list for Cosmik Debris. Don't wait for that list though, go check out samples of this CD at www.newwestrecords.com.

Track List:

Going Away * Julia * Wavin' My Heart Goodbye * Down In The Light Of the Melon Moon * Right Where I Belong * My Wildest Dreams Grow Wilder Every Day * I Thought The Wreck Was Over * Yesterday Was Judgment Day * Now It's New Again * All You Are Love * You Make It Look Easy * Pay the Alligator * Down On Filbert's Rise * South Wind of Summer

© 2002 - Eric Steiner