Most artists eventually come up against a timeless foe called stagnation, and must contemplate how to keep the creative juices flowing. One method of regeneration is to join forces with another artist as
Vance Gilbert and
Ellis Paul have done on
Side of the Road, sharing musical and lyrical ideas. Both artists attempt to grow out of their own skin here by trading songs, singing together, and offering new versions of other peoples' songs.
Paul kicks things off with fellow songsmith's
Mark Erelli's "The Only Way," and for all appearances, it could be the start of any
Paul album. By the second song, however, the listener knows that something's up. Not only does
Gilbert sing the lead here, but the arrangement has transformed from fairly traditional (acoustic guitars and fiddle) on the first cut to modern folk (organ and electric guitar). This tasteful hodgepodge becomes even more adventurous as the album proceeds, creating a disc that's more intriguing than the average singer/songwriter fare. Both
Gilbert and
Paul are good singers, the former's lows balancing out the latter's highs. There are also a number of nice takes on older songs, including a slow version of
Neil Young's "Comes a Time," and a heartfelt rendition of
Van Morrison's "Comfort You." Fans of both artists will enjoy hearing
Gilbert and
Paul expand their imaginative reach on
Side of the Road. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.