This weeks Roots CDs reviewed

THE JOHN HENRYS
Sweet as the Grain Fargo****

This Ottawa, Ontario five-piece have a gritty, raucous side that betrays an allegiance to the wilder side of country. Sweet as the Grainis their debut, and it fairly cranks along with a line-up of songs peopled by grizzled characters and fuelled by the snarling guitars of singer-songwriter Rey Sabatin and Doug Gouthro. There is a strong 1960s RB feel to the music (the Stones) as on Ugly Town, and Jagger Co's country journeys are echoed in Lost in the Canyon. But this is a band with the potential to be greater than the sum of their influences, with tracks such as New Year, El Dorado, the sensitive title track and the novelty No More Rock'n'Roll, which carries the warning, "it is cold comfort for a true believer to have earned a place in heaven when there is no more rock n roll". Perish the thought. www.thejohnhenrys.com JOE BREEN

Download tracks: Sweet as the Grain, El Dorado, No More Rock'n'Roll

RANCHO DELUXE
True Freedom Rancho Deluxe Records***

How is it that the shadow of Gram Parsons hangs over every half-decent country-rock album? Rancho Deluxe have a better excuse than most. Greg Harris, father of guitarist Jesse Jay Harris, was apparently a sometime member of the Flying Burrito Brothers (which included Parsons at one stage). This presumably inspired junior to follow in his footsteps. We can be thankful because the California- based RD are a duo (the other half is Mark Adams) with some strong songs, embellished by classy playing from the likes of Don Huffington (drums) and Jaydee Maness (pedal steel). On this, their second album, they are still carving out a distinctive identity but when good they are very good and when not the music still sounds polished if dull. The bulk of the songs are written by Adams while Harris's playing is a delight. They are certainly worthy of investigation. www.ranchodeluxe.org JOE BREEN

Download: Too Late, Pine Street Saloon