Maxwell D. Russell –Alabama Moon
Review by Emily Clarke

Ahh. The sweet sounds of country.  Bless Maxwell D Russell. His singing is sometimes a bit thin but regardless, this album is a gentle, well played record, perfectly suited to drinking beer on your imaginary porch. Baby Blues, despite being a cringe-worthy love song, has truly tender slide on it that doesn't attempt to assault your ears. 

Russell evades the stigma of ‘"must slide, must slide loud"’in favour of calm ramblings. Can't Drink the Water is a bit of a jumping hoedown, which provides sweet respite before the seedy blues of The Old Man Was Right. Take back what I said about the vocals on this one, he's whining like a good boy, and curling his voice up to shrill notes with ease.

Alabama Moon is quite a naked record. The sounds is modest, and pictures of Russell teetering on his chair playing his steel guitar are the perfect companion to your basic but genuine laments of deep south blues. In The Doghouse Now is not, as you might expect a carbon copy of In The Jailhouse Now, but altogether pleasantly rhythmic and slippery song.

Russell's album is an accomplishment; I think he's quite an honest man, with a good sense of how he plays - he doesn't ever howl above his mark I mean. Try it –you might like it. Just get ready to book your ticket to Alabama.

Get your copy direct from Max on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/maddmax333

Check Eric 'Our man in Alabama' Gerhardt's interview with Max here