Tas Cru – Might Give Out…But I Won’t Give In
Subcat Records
10 Tracks – 40 minutes
Tas Cru continues his musical quest through the many styles of blues and roots music to satisfy his own soul. He identifies his dreams similar to those of Don Quixote, in that like Quixote, he dares to dream big and to have the goal of having the dreams in the form of his songs which will reach the many “who still want “music that they can savor… and dreaming that they “hold fast and dream that they will reach those very kind of people”. The cover provides the impression of Quixote preparing to tackle the windmill and like Quixote, Tas dares to dream”.
This is his eighth album on Subcat Records. In addition to Tas on guitar and vocals, he is joined by Mia Casale on vocals, Scott Eisner on keyboards, Ron Keck on keyboards, Colin Beatty on bass, Jeremy Walz om Guitar, Nick Earl Erickson on harmonica, and Andy Hearn on drums.
Ten original songs start with “Might Give Out”, which sounds like it could be a song from Mark Knopler. He offers a biographical journey citing ” knock me down, I will get back up again, I keep on fighting until the very end”. “Twenty years in and I am still playing my dues”. He moves to a more traditional blues with Nick’s harmonica shining on “Lucky at Love” in a duet with Mia, stating, ” I got me a ticket on that miracle money ball, got a feeling that I might take it all”. Mia says, “but you are lucky at love, and you know who to thank”. He croons, that he has “Known All Along” that I would be singing this song as I am heading back home to you.” Scott’s smooth organ playing supports the song.
On his “Favorite Song”, he sings, “What she meant, I understood, there was no need to say but since her words were never spoke, hopes would make me stay. Full of things to come around, but our love is gone, but still, I want to sing to her. She is my favorite song. Every word I sing to her seems wrong”. “Pass Them Biscuits” rocks out as he begs her “to please home, I miss my favorite biscuit”. He declares “There is nothing pretty in what I am here to do, let’s give you what you want just like you asked me to. I know you feel the heat, just like me you want to burn. Here we go again taking a “Nasty Turn”.
A roots-rock “Tulsa Tornado” number follows the path of a tornado that ultimately is about a woman “who turns my world around”. He notes he has “Two Big Feet” “One much bigger than the other. The big boy is the blues, rock and roll that’s his little brother.” “One foot rock and rolling, the other kicking out the blues”. He then says “It is time we talk it over about what’s best for you and me. It’s tearing us apart, crushed right through the heart. I just can’t believe we let this “Come to Be”. Mia again joins on vocals with Scott delivering a tranquil piano accompaniment. The album concludes with a solo Taj and his resonator guitar telling a deeply personal tale on “Smell Like Whiskey” as he tells her “Wake up and wash your face and hands. You smell like whiskey and the love of another man”.
The album offers very laidback and sometimes emotional stories of lost love with attempts to regain what is missing. Tas’ vocals are smooth with lyrics that express the turns that life sometimes take. His band is an extension of the dreams he carries with his music. Taj’s liner notes on the album states “Getting rich? Becoming Famous? Not going to happen. Nor does it matter, and it never did…and this songwriter will just keep on writing his songs…and dreaming”. Thank you for sharing those dreams!
