Jud Newcomb
Byzantine (Curium/Freedom)
Since he’s remarkably active as a producer and guitarist for the likes of the Resentments, Ian McLagan, Beaver Nelson, Matt the Electrician, and too many others to mention, you might forget that Austin music scene staple “Scrappy” Jud Newcomb is a talented songwriter. Byzantine, his second album, is not only his best work as a solo artist, it’s his best work period. Each track, from Stonesy opener “Plain & Simple” and shimmering summer song “Is That Any Way?” to the urgent “Baby, Let’s Break the Rules,” finds Newcomb at his most self-assured. He’s never sung with this much tattered fervor or covered this much rootsy territory with such poise. A prime example is love song “Gwendolyn,” told simply with guitar and strings, and filled with aches few would consider Newcomb capable of before. Scenemates like McLagan, Bruce Hughes, Kacy Crowley, and Ron Flynt share their abilities here, and it’s talent like this that’s obviously informed Byzantine‘s vision. There are bits and pieces of everyone here, and it’s fun to pick them out with every listen. In the end, though, it’s Jud Newcomb moving up another level of musical maturity.
This article appears in Barbara Bush.