Mac Arnold & Plate Full O' Blues - Country Man - Plantation #1 Productions (VizzTone Label Group) 2009

That's the way Mac Arnold & Plate Full O' Blues kicks off their new release, Country Man. The album's first track, "I Ain't Sugar Coatin'" is a socially conscious tune that takes a tough love approach to some of the things that are wrong with our society. Arnold is self admittedly old school. Not backward, but proud of his country lifestyle and Southern heritage. he brings those values to the table on "I Ain't Sugar Coatin'," discussing the price of gasoline, children growing up without fathers, and even young men's affinity for saggy jeans. The tune sets the tone right away for an album filled with simple truths.

Mac Arnold, a native of South Carolina, made his first guitar out of a gas can as a boy, and began his professional music career in the 1960's. He moved to Chicago in the middle of the decade, eventually hooking up with, and playing bass for, Muddy Waters. Late in the decade, as a member of the Soul Invaders, Arnold backed acts including B.B. King and The Temptations. After returning home and spending a good amount of time out of the business, Arnold assembled local players, Plate Full O' Blues, releasing the self produced Nothin' To Prove in 2006 and last year's Backbone and Gristle, both on Plantation #1 Productions.

After playing on Backbone and Gristle, "Steady Rollin'" Bob Margolin came aboard for Country Man, working as the record's producer, but also playing and singing on a few of the tracks. In addition, he had a lot of nice things to say about Mac in the disc's liner notes - "I was proud to be a guest with his family." The disc possesses a family feel to it, as well. Arnold sounds like a scolding father on the aforementioned "I Ain't Sugar Coatin'," relays some of the beliefs that have been passed down through generations of Arnold men on "Farmer," and screams his fidelity on "True To You."

"Farmer" was a song that struck me the first time I heard it. It's practically a ballad for the family farmer, and coincidentally, I was listening to the song for the first time the same day Farm Aid 2009 was being held in St. Louis, Missouri. I didn't realize that at the time, but it was a strange coincidence that I had visions of family farms dancing in my head as I listened to the tune. Along those same lines, I realized I loved this CD when I caught the line "Got Willie Nelson on my jukebox," in the title song, "Country Man."

Arnold handles vocal duties on all of the songs, and plays his signature gas can guitars (yes, still made from an actual gas can) on "This Ol' Tractor" and "Cackalacky Twang." He lays down bass on "Screamin' and Cryin'" and "Swing Me Back Home." He possesses more energy than men in their 20's on the record's more rollicking tracks ("Country Man," "If Walls Could Talk," and "Cackalacky Twang.") At the same time, he brings his age and an earthiness to songs like "Farmer" and the sad but beautiful "Holdin' On To Lettin' Go," conveying wisdom in his words. All of the songs on Country Man were written by Mac Arnold & Plate Full O' Blues, save for "If Walls Could Talk," which was written by Robert Miller and recorded by Little Milton in 1970; and Muddy Waters' "Screamin' and Cryin'" (which features Margolin guesting on vocals and playing some killer slide.)

Plate Full O' Blues turns in some excellent instrumental work, as well. Standouts include Max Austin's harmonica on "This Ol' Tractor," Danny Keylon's bass on "Too Much" (a tune he also provides backing vocals on,) and Austin Brashier's guitar on "Mule For A Chevrolet," an awesome example of art imitating life as Mac details leaving the farm bound for Chicago with "My bass in the back seat, a whole trunk full of dreams." The disc closes with the instrumental "Swing Me Back Home."

It's not at all difficult for me to say how much I enjoyed this CD. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for that next great album to put on and simply let play from beginning to end.

Standout Tracks: All of Them! Especially "Farmer," "Country Man," "I Ain't Sugar Coatin'," and "Holdin' On To Lettin' Go"

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