These Magnificent Miles
Red Wanting Blue
RWBE, LLC

This is an Ohio band that gets around. Red Wanting Blue is not from Cleveland (they're from Athens) but they might as well be for as often as they visit. Their eighth release These Magnificent Miles finds a decade-old band on the precipice of bigger things. They have survived without label support and on the strength of great pop songwriting and word-of-mouth reputation for great live gigs -- both of which are evident on the disc's dozen upbeat, autobiographical songs. Produced by Jamie Candiloro (R.E.M., Ryan Adams, Willie Nelson), the disc draws the listener in with mellow jangle, summery beats and vocalist Scott Terry's Jack Johnson-like wordplay and low-register, Vedderesque intonements.

It's all very heart-on-sleeve, more wide than deep and not particularly intellectual. But so what, RWB's still got a lot going for it. It harkens back to summer memories and simpler times and (perhaps most importantly) it's fun. "Gravity" sets the carnival tone off, as Terry rolls And I would vandalize outer space/Remake out constellations to spell our names/Like when we used to carve our names in the bark/Or write upon the windshield fog in the car/Sign autographs with sparklers in the dark. The remaining tracks -- including "Where Ya Wanna Go," "The Air I Breathe," "New Cool" and the sharp "Red Ryder" (a nod to Cleveland, perhaps?) -- round out a solid collection. Call it a guilty pleasure; by "Probably Nothing" you'll be hooked on this heartland act... or at least packing the beach bag and circling June '09 on your calendar.

F.F.O. (for fans of): Jack Johnson, R.E.M., Pearl Jam, John Mayer.

Red Wanting Blue performs at JB's (formerly Fat Jimmy's) in Kent this Friday, November 14 at 8PM. Get details and song samples at http://www.redwantingblue.com.

From Cool Cleveland Managing Editor Peter Chakerian peterATcoolcleveland.com

Wanna get reviewed? Send your band's CD (less than 1 year old) to: Cool Cleveland, 14837 Detroit Avenue, #105, Lakewood, OH 44107

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