Dave Rudolf: “As The Town Turns To Dust” (2020) CD Review

Many of us wanted to use the time during the pandemic to be productive. Dave Rudolf actually did. He released four albums, the first three of which he thinks of as his “Covid trilogy.” The first of those was As The Town Turns To Dust, which came out in early 2020, just before everything began shutting down. And though the album’s title has a rather gloomy and sad ring to it, the music on this disc is actually sweet and positive and sometimes uplifting. All but one of the songs were written by Dave Rudolf. Joining Dave Rudolf on this album are Marc Adrian on guitar and mandolin, Jack Whittle on guitar, Gary Victorine on pedal steel, Jim Widlowski on drums and percussion, John Chomey on keyboards and organ, Wally Hustin on bass, Al Joseph on violin, and Marsha Lynn Smith on backing vocals.

The album opens with “A Simple Act Of Kindness,” which has a mellow, gentle acoustic sound. It begins by describing a woman and her situation, as she loads groceries into her old car. “Her bag of items rips apart/She starts sobbing so softly/It’s just the last stab at her heart.” Sometimes the smallest trouble can set us over the edge. But when that happens to this character, someone happens to be there to help. And doesn’t that make all the difference? Dave Rudolf sings, “It wasn’t a grand gesture/It was an easy task/But for those few fleeting moments/It was more than she could ask.” Sometimes all we need is someone doing something simple to ease our burdens, a gesture to remind us we don’t have to struggle alone. Dave Rudolf delivers a kind, gentle vocal performance, fitting for the song’s subject and message. The song urges us to offer those small kindnesses to others. That’s followed by “If Nothing Goes Right, Turns Left,” which also begins by describing troubles: “When life’s unruly/And it seems like a curse/And the path you were taking/Took a turn for the worse.” This one has more of a bluesy sound, and it offers this advice: “Just roll up your sleeves/Take a different road/Get rid of the baggage/It’s dragging you down/And you lighten your load.”

A pleasant island vibe is established at the beginning of “It’s A Beautiful Day,” designed to raise our spirits, to transport us from our troubles. Here is a taste of the lyrics: “I’ve got nowhere to go, so I think I’ll just stay/It’s all about the way that you look at your life/Take a break from the noise, the worries, the strife.” It’s a song advising us to take stock of the positive things in our lives. Sometimes we do need those reminders, and certainly the pandemic caused many of us to take a fresh look at our priorities, and to clean out much we considered unnecessary. This track features some nice backing vocal work. “You could get angry/Over things that you’ve lost/Look at all of the good things/Think of all that you’ve got.” Then “I Will Wait For You” has a prettier folk and country sound at the start, and features some good work on pedal steel, as well as a passionate vocal performance. “With a heart so loyal/I will wait for you/I am your knight in armor/I am your paladin.” And, yes, the Dungeons & Dragons player in me got a little thrill at the use of the word “paladin” in a song.

“As The Town Turns To Dust,” the album’s title track, is about a place where folks lose their jobs after the main employer closes up shop. This track creates a vivid picture: “And left us to vanish/Like ghosts in a crypt/Where once there was laughter/On the streets of downtown/Now boarded doors keep watch/As the dirt swirls around.” Dave Rudolf describes the town’s demise as a “slow death as the folks moved away.” The town itself is the main character of this song, a character that has been largely abandoned. That’s followed by the album’s one cover, “Geronimo’s Cadillac,” which was written by Michael Murphey and Charles Quarto, and was the title track of Michael Murphey’s 1972 LP. It has also been recorded by Hoyt Axton, Johnny Rivers and Cher, among others. Dave Rudolf’s rendition has a rather pleasant, cheerful sound, helped by the backing vocals, that sound in contrast to the story the song tells.

Then we get into country territory with “I’ve Been Thinking About Drinking,” a fun number. And hey, who didn’t increase his or her drinking during the pandemic? This song is about a mean woman. Check out these lines: “Her tail is up and her stinger is out/She’s like her own Legion of Doom.” The kid in me smiled at that reference. And the bit about her tail and stinger reminds me of that delicious scene from The Taming Of The Shrew. And I can’t help but enjoy lines like this one: “She’s useless as a screen door on a submarine.” This track features some nice work on violin. That’s followed by “Be Careful What You Wish For,” which has a cool sound and features some really nice work on guitar. This one issues a warning in its very title. “She might be what most men long for/A fantasy that you control/But her smile could hold dark secrets/Buried deep inside her soul.” The way he delivers the lines, it is like he divulging secrets himself. This is one of my favorite tracks. It is followed by “There Will Be Trouble,” which has a lively sound. This is about how when folks feel they have little control over their own lives, their anger and frustration erupt in sadly predictable ways. “It’s a dead-end job with little pay/It’s a way to feel a little something/It’s the highlight of their dismal day/There will be trouble, it’s nearly certain/They’re liquored up and full of spite/Get out the door, or you’ll be hurtin’/They’re just itching to start a fight.” Then “I’ll Carry Your Love” has a sweeter and more intimate sound.

“Roadkill Of Love” has a meaner sound, the bass driving it forward. Yeah, the title is a bit goofy, but that’s okay. This track features some nice backing vocal work, as well as some cool stuff on keys. That’s followed by “How About You,” which opens with this line: “In matters of love, I have been inept.” This one has a sweet country vibe. It’s a positive song in which he’s told his luck will change and he will find someone special. And so he turns it on that person, asking, “How about you?” Talk about putting the person on the spot, right? But, you know, it seems like it’s going to work out. “I must have been blind to all of the clear signs/I finally know it’s always been you.” Then Al Joseph’s work on violin helps with the timeless vibe and beauty of “The Lady Of Windermere.” This is one of those folks songs that tell a story of love and murder, and it’s another of the disc’s highlights. “Her great beauty he desired/But to another man she was wed/There was no path that led her to him/Unless her love lie dead.” Then “Dance Of Love” has a pleasant vibe and includes some wonderful work on pedal steel. The album concludes with “Uneasy,” which has a darker, bluesy atmosphere, and lyrics that feel just about right for that terrible year of 2020. “The air is feeling desperate/And something’s just not right/I’m feeling real uneasy/I’ve lost my appetite.” In the second half, Marsha Lynne Smith’s vocal work adds another level, and another spark to this piece. “It might get nasty/And you won’t like the things you see/These kind of people/They will have you on your knees.”

CD Track List

1. A Simple Act Of Kindness
2. If Nothing Goes Right, Turn Left
3. It’s A Beautiful Day
4. I Will Wait For You
5. As The Town Turns To Dust
6. Geronimo’s Cadillac
7. I’ve Been Thinking About Drinking
8. Be Careful What You Wish For
9. There Will Be Trouble
10. I’ll Carry Your Love
11. Roadkill Of Love
12. How About You
13. The Lady Of Windermere
14. Dance Of Love
15. Uneasy

As The Town Turns To Dust was released in February, 2020.