Luke Doucet Broken (and other rogue states). Release Date : 2005. Label: Six Shooter Records. Rating: Andy doesn't dig rating stuff. Man I love the twangy country-rock these days. Luke Doucet's been at it for a while, through Veal and his own works, and he seems to get twangier all the time. He has a soft, unassuming voice at the start, real, not polished by any means. There's something about a well-done slide guitar - haunting, mellow, sad. These people are modernizing the vision of old country legends. It's just dark and powerful, but in an understated way. Lonely, open, as a cowboy with a harmonica leaning against a boulder by his campfire, his horse grazing nearby, and pot of coffee bubbling away over the flames. It looks like Doucet recorded this album in a thousand different places with a thousand different pairs of helping hands. It's quite the project - I am curious about his mindset in working in so many situations. In the ending throes of the opening track " Brother," we're suddenly hit with a pile of thick, grungy guitars. Startling contrast, and very powerful. The disc can verge on the corny-sappy at times. But that's sort of how country music is supposed to be, isn't it? Oh these lyrics are adorable in "Broken One." Duets with females, songs about broken hearts, of course. He's definitely following the rules of country tunes. Doucet's voice gets somewhat deliberate and speak-like in this tune, not unlike his oft-show partner Danny Michel. Quite the pair, those two. "Stumbling Back Gingerly To Emily's Apartment" (what an emo title) is absolutely a dark waltz mixed with a bit of Mexico. Weird. No one can say this guy doesn't draw from a world of influences. Everything from Elvis to Tammy Wynette to the theme song from the Love Boat is in here. Lots of broken hearts, upsets with girls, pennilessness, alcohol. Pretty dark and desperate and daunting! Hard to choose a favourite. "Broken One" is really cool, and so is "Vladivostock" (neat trumpets that remind me of Meatloaf or something.) A sudden orchestral wall of strings is a big twist later in the album. And more about alcohol. Song of choice : "No Love To Be Made Here Now" I think has overtaken as the favourite. Sucker for strings! -Andy Scheffler Elsewhere Luke Doucet website Published : March, 2006.