Joe Ely

The second song on Joe Ely's 2011 album Satisfied at Last is titled "Not That Much Has Changed," and it's hard not to think that sums up the album pretty well. That isn't an insult: Ely has been making records since 1972, he knows his craft well, and he's still one of the most consistently rewarding artists to come out of the Texas singer/songwriter community. His voice is in great shape on Satisfied at Last, he brings a genuine passion and soul to his performances in the studio, and his tales of outlaws and ramblers trying to make their way under the big sky of the Southwest are still resonant, intelligent, and down to earth. But while some Joe Ely albums find the man experimenting with his style or embracing a more ambitious concept, Satisfied at Last is 39 minutes of the man doing what he's been doing for a long time, and as a consequence, it's somewhat short on surprises…..

Joe Ely & Joel Guzman - Live Cactus! (2008) {Rack 'Em Records RERCD003}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 408 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 151 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 18 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2008 Rack 'Em Records / Rounder Europe | RER CD 003
Country / Americana / Progressive Country / Neo-Traditionalist Country

Though Joe Ely has released multiple live discs throughout his career, Live Cactus! is unlike anything he's ever done. Over the course of an hour, Ely's guitar and voice and the magnificent accordion style of longtime compadre Joel Guzman travel over dusty highways to desolate border towns and West Texas flatlands, romancing an appreciative Cactus Cafe audience with a passion that's palpable.