Shane Dwight "A Hundred White Lies"

 

 

"A Hundred White Lies" is the second album of Shane Dwight that I have received for review. The first one was "Plays The Blues", an album I gave my highest rating of 5*****, as well as choosing it as Best Blues/Rock Album in my 2009 Year End Review, where I also placed it on my Top 25 Album List. In closing out that review I had this to say about Shane Dwight, "With Shane Dwight now firmly affixed on the Blues and Blues/Rock radar, fans can now be assured that the future of that particular Genre and Style, has just gotten a little brighter. This is my first introduction to Shane's music and I simply can't wait to hear more ." Well that chance is now here with his amazing new release, and I got to say, that it is not just as good as his previous release, it is better, and by far his best to date.

 

"A Hundred White Lies" consists of 12 very powerful Tracks all written by Shane Dwight except for Track 8 Wagon Wheel, "a song originally sketched by Bob Dylan and later completed by Old Crow Medicine Show." Joining Shane on "A Hundred White Lies" were essentially Delbert McClinton’s recording and touring band, referred to as "Dick 50", and consisted of Kevin McKendree (Acoustic Guitar/Keyboards), Rob McNelley (Rhythm/Electric Slide Guitars), Stephen Mackey (Bass), Lynn Williams (Drums), The McCrary Sisters "Ann, Regina, and Alfreda (Background Vocals Tracks 2,5,7,8,9,), Bekka Bramlett (Background Vocals Tracks (1,2,4,6,12), and Mike Hendersen (Harmonica). In addition to playing on this album Kevin McKendree was also the Producer. "A Hundred White Lies" was recorded at Kevin McKendree's Rock House Studio, which conveniently enough was next door to where Shane Dwight lived. Bekka Bramlett, who has sung with many notable greats including "Fleetwood Mac, Joe Cocker, Dwight Yoakam, Rod Stewart, Vince Gill and Sam Moore", is also the daughter of Delaney & Bonnie. The McCrary Sisters "have recorded with Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Buddy Miller and Wynonna Judd."

 

Shane Dwight started writing songs for "A Hundred White Lies" at perhaps the darkest time in his life, as the 200 plus shows a year proved to much for his marriage and lead to an eventual divorce. It is always a sad side note that artists have to go through their toughest times to bring out their best work, but such is the case with many, and Shane is no exception. It is an unfortunate tradeoff which often leads to amazing things, of which "A Hundred White Lies" is one of them. The title Track "A Hundred White Lies" and other Tracks, such as, "She Strutts 22", “Love’s Last Letter”, “Broken”, “True Love’s Gone”, pretty well some it all up, from the temptations of touring life, the pain of separation and eventual realization of love lost. Shane Dwight's magnificent writing skills brings all that to the surface to share with us, and I guess eventually starts his healing through the sharing.

 

"A Hundred White Lies" is a brilliant album, pulled out of a dark place and brought to a brighter future. The music on "A Hundred White Lies" is exceptional with fantastic performances by all involved and certainly proves what I said about Shane Dwight at the beginning of this review,  "fans can now be assured that the future of that particular Genre and Style, has just gotten a little brighter." My 3 favorites on this album were “Love’s Last Letter”, a straight ahead Blues/Rockfest with great backup vocals, "Love That True", which although it was not the Bob Dylan written song, still had a great early Bob Dylan feel to it, and "Wagon Wheel", the one that was written by Bob Dylan which came across with a great Country Rock feel, with wonderful Guitar work from Shane.

 

"A Hundred White Lies" deserves a hell of a lot more accolades then I can give it, but it certainly gets my highest rating of 5*****. It is one of the best, if not the best Blues/Rock release, so far for 2011. Highly Recommended and Thoroughly Enjoyed.

 

Review by John Vermilyea (Blues Underground Network)

 

Listen To Samples Here...

 

Additional Artist Info... http://www.shanedwight.com/