If you've ever wondered what Bob Dylan would sound like if he took a long, hard look at his life, developed some vocal range and depth, and decided to record an album to celebrate, listen to the latest solo album from Tom Cochrane. Ragged Ass Road is a far cry from Cochrane's hit single on Mad Mad World,"Life is a Highway." This album is free of gimmicks and fluff lyrics. Cochrane's latest album is a strong performance featuring amazing vocal range, impeccable arrangement skills and solid guitar playing by Cochrane, Canadian sessions artist Bill Bell and Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson.
It seems that after years of playing with the band Red Rider and recording solo material, Cochrane has decided to dedicate an album to looking back.
The opening song, "I Wish You Well," sets the standard for what's to come with solid guitars and a general upbeat feel.
Unlike other songs about former loves, Cochrane never asks his love to return. Instead of bitterness and loss, Cochrane seems happy to revel in his memories.
"And in another year/the pain will disappear and I/will look upon this life as if it were a scene/ in a film somebody made for you and me/ I wish you well."
The mature lyrics with the harder music make the album a mix of hard rock and adult contemporary.
Another song to listen for is "Crawl," a beautifully rendered piece about an abused woman standing up for herself for the first time. Co-written with Bell and featuring Lifeson's guitar, the song puts an upbeat spin on the topic. It looks past the abuse to the future.
Cochrane also uses the talents of Canadian musician Annete Ducharme as co-writer as well as acoustic guitarist on several of the album's more touching songs.
Ducharme wrote the story that became the basis for the strangely upbeat tale of homelessness, "Flowers in the Concrete." Although the lyrics talk about having to do anything to stay alive, it's hard to notice them behind the happy music.
The most impressive aspect of the album is the overall strength of each and every song. Cochrane has developed a reputation for songs that hit hard and fade fast ("Lunatic Fringe" and "Life in the Big League" with Red Rider and "Life is a Highway"), but Ragged Ass Road gives 12 solid performances.
Released last year to little fanfare, it is doubtful that this album will sell nearly as many copies as Mad Mad World. If you are a fan of solid, well-played rock'n'roll, listen to Ragged Ass Road.
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