February 13, 2010

It takes a certain amount of belief in one's own abilities to attempt an album of covers, let alone a tribute to a musical hero. And it takes talent to actually pull it off. Meet Austin-based country-rock band Reckless Kelly—a group that has the chutzpah and chops to properly honor Idaho singer/songwriter Pinto Bennett, who with his band Famous Motel Cowboys influenced a generation of Northwestern musicians. Reckless Kelly's latest album, "Somewhere in Time," is made up of Bennett-penned tunes. (Bennett himself guests on two tracks.) Among the highlights is "The Ballad of Elano De Leon," with a guest appearance by Joe Ely. The rollicking "Bird on a Wire" is perhaps the album's best cut, mixing smart lyrics and sizzling guitar work, while honky-tonk "I've Done Everything I Could Do Wrong" will probably fill the floors in dance halls all across Texas.—Ken Tucker

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