Track Listing

1. Day Is Done
2. Dylan's Hard Rain
3. Tell My Mother I Miss Her So
4. Country Roads
5. Bluebird
6. Snake Eyes
7. Endless Ways
8. Change Is
9. Rollin' Highway Blues
10. Hey Hey Hurray
11. Roadhouse Blues
12. Wishing Well

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1700 in Music
• Released on: 2009-06-02
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .14 pounds

Album Description
Ryan Bingham has spent most of his life on the road, first on the rough-and-tumble rodeo circuit, then moving from town to town on the equally volatile roadhouse musical circuit. Those travels have given him plenty of material to draw from - and plenty of reason to stop for a moment to dig in his heels and take a stand.

That's exactly what the Texas-bred troubadour does on his second Lost Highway album, Road House Sun, a hardscrabble collection that's at once unblinkingly personal and unapologetically political - the latter a new and bracingly vivid addition to Bingham's palette.

Produced, like its predecessor, by one-time Black Crowes guitarist Marc Ford, Road House Sun manages to capture a feel that's rootsy without being retro. That has a lot to do with the singer's preternaturally wizened voice - which Bingham laughingly attributes to "Too many nights in the whiskey house" - not to mention Ford's approach behind the board," which Bingham describes as "really old school. Those guitar tones and basslines, Marc knew how to get those down. He wanted to do it the way they used to do it."

From the Artist
"With all that's happened politically and economically in the last couple of years, I felt like there was a lot to say," explains the 28-year-old singer-songwriter. "As a young person, I felt like it was time to get involved, to write something that wasn't just about Saturday nights in bars. Things that were happening back then are still happening. Things keep repeating themselves."

"I think when I was younger, I had more of a grudge against society," he offers. "I grew up poor and I grew up angry about it. But at some point, you realize you can't just be pissed off - you have to try to do something positive, and this record is my way of doing that."

Customer Reviews

Just Damn Good Music.
Great music that defies classification. I had 'Roadhouse Sun' in the CD player in the car as I drove my friend to work, and he sat quietly for 15 or 20 minutes, a first for as long as I've known him, and we just rocked out to this great music.
If I had to label it I would say, West Texas Alt Country Rock in the great tradition of Joe Ely or Springsteen's Nebraska. He was a little late for work because he wanted to hear more music, but I bought him a copy of his own and I'll give it to him next time I give him a ride to work.

Even Better Than Mescalito
A few months back, I heard Ryan Bingham on Austin City Limits and promptly purchased "Mescalito". I was absolutely stunned by the quality of the music on that disk. Every song on it was truly great, and I wasn't sure if Ryan Bingham would be able to match the quality of that record.

I was wrong. Not only does "Roadhouse Sun" match the quality of "Mescalito", it exceeds it in several areas. Ryan Bingham's songwriting has clearly matured, and continues to get better. Songs like "Snake Eyes" and "Rolling Highway Blues" show a new side of Ryan Bingham.

And also, his band, the Dead Horses, simply rocks harder. A listen to the opening track, "Day Is Done" surely proves that. The song starts out softly with rolling slide and electric guitars, but soon builds into a pure rock anthem with a driving beat and a wall of roaring guitars. Just as quick, it returns to the gentle tones of soft slide.

The Dead Horses have remarkable musicianship, and Marc Ford, producer of this record and guitarist for the Black Crowes, knows how to bring out the best in the band. You'll hear jingly jangly 60's style electric guitar on "Dylan's Hard Rain", and then next thing you know, Ryan Bingham and Corby Shaub are jamming on acoustic guitar and mandolin on "Tell My Mother I'll Miss Her So".

This is followed by what is in my opinion, the best song on the record: "Country Roads", which features more mandolin and acoustic, along with a driving beat, just enough electric guitar to give it definition, and Bingham's wailing harmonica.

I've only talked about four songs in this review, and it's probably already too long! Everything on "Roadhouse Sun" is terrific; I could spend all day talking about it. In my opinion, this album is one of the finest of the 21st century. You will not find this kind of music on any commercial country release, that's for sure. Buy it! You will not regret it.

Bingham's 2nd a Real Stunner!
Ryan Bingham's latest offering lives up to every expectation one could possibly have for music that transcends time and space. With "Roadhouse Sun" Bingham brings to plight the feelings and frustrations of the common man. There are anthems and there are tender moments that reflect truth and commonalities we all share. Emotions run high on "Endless Ways" while "Bluebird" digs deep to the songwriters core of self reflection.

While there are bound to be comparisons with a young Steve Earle in his prime, Bingham is is own man and brings the genre of a long line of tradition full circle to its rightful place.

These are songs of redemption, reflection and celebrations of being alive in 2009.

Without a doubt a top recording of 2009. I await the next chapter in Bingham's long anticipated legacy.