As I've said in previous reviews, sometimes you come across an album that's just a pure joy to listen to. Well, this time, it's Walkie Talkie's CD Twilite at Spanish Castle.

Cut from the same cloth as such groups as Edie Brickel & the New Bohemians and Hootie & the Blowfish, Walkie Talkie has roots in Fleetwood Mac, blues rockers like Hendrix and rock storytellers like Mellencamp. Walkie Talkie (Jim Lacey Baker on guitar and vocals, Dani Francis on percussion and vocals, Bryant Mills on drums, Tony Stead on keyboards, David Falzone, and Mike Hogan on congos) delivers eleven tracks of melody and storytelling that take hold of you and nicely rock you with a country-folk feel.

Things get off quite nicely with their first track, "Alien Boy," a softly sung duet of the love of life, a song which beautifully utilizes good guitar with harmony and rain effects to produce a melodic tone. In "Lost and Alone," Jim and his guitar spill out poetic musing over missing the one you love, with lines like "...and I miss you, like a prince needs his throne...."

In "Destruction," we get the extremist's view of our new millennium, and the dark cloud of impending doom. In "Hard Times," which utilizes more sampling to make the old country on vinyl sound, we get the song of the down and out that still has his head held high. And, in "Mrs. Preserved So Well," they lay out the lyrical tale of a woman caught up tightly in all her little lies to please everyone, using guitar and harmony with depth and sheer talent.

With guitar, harmonies, great lyrical work and fine delivery, Walkie Talkie delivers an album that spins nicely to the ear and touches you with melody and song. An absolute can't-miss and a definite winner.

[ by Charlie Gebetsberger ]