Johnny Edson

More Than Friends (Ragweed)

Technology now allows anyone to record his or her musical vision and make it available on a wide scale. Problem is that’s erased the line between what should be made public and what should be kept private. More Than Friends, Johnny Edson’s fifth album, is the latter. Based on Friends, Edson demonstrates little talent as either a singer or a songwriter, but that doesn’t seem to matter to Floyd Domino, Cindy Cashdollar, Chip Dolan, Asleep at the Wheel’s rhythm section, David Sanger and David Miller, and the Austin Lounge Lizards’ Boo Resnick and Korey Simeone, who all make appearances here. Their presence lends the disc a shiny professional sheen, imbuing it with a Western swing these players could probably produce in their sleep. Backing musicians aside, Edson’s voice is flat and lifeless and only shows a glimmer of excitement when imitating Bob Wills on “Wabash Blues.” Otherwise, he’s concerned about such mundane subjects as “Waitin’ for Water to Boil,” “The Man You Married,” and “I’m Breathing.” Edson’s first band was reportedly called Uncle Uh Uh & the Uh Huhs, which is about all you need to know concerning the creativity involved in More Than Friends.

*.5

This article appears in September 29 • 2006.

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