Tim Lee may be known more for his duties as the editor of Dirt Late Model magazine around these parts than for his musically expertise but for any dirt racing fan or participant who is into rock ‘n roll music then Lee’s newest CD offering. Concrete Dog, is right up your alley. Tim Lee is all rocker, believe me. The new CD is a wicked mixture of rock ‘n roll with occasional inflections of power pop and a sometimes British nod without selling out his American influences.
This is quality.
The opening tune, the cover title song Concrete Dog gets repeated play in my household. The wife loves the CD but she has to listen to Concrete Dog two or three times before moving on to the other tunes. Infectious? You bet ‘cha, especially those tasty jangling guitars and Lee’s better half Susan Bauer Lee’s licks on a fuzz bass at all the right times.
This is a primo CD to stick into the player as you make your way down the highways and interstates to the next race. It rocks, it jumps, it hops and it bops.
Take two or three listens and you’ll be humming along with such stand out tunes as the aforementioned Concrete Dog, Half-Life, Alone Together, Threw It All Away, Here One Minute and many others. Not a bad one in the bunch.
One thing that especially stands out with Lee’s new release is the outstanding productions values and quality on each cut. Clear, concise and lethal. The band, though, really makes the production and propels the creation with flashes of, I kid you not, brilliance on a par with the likes of Ian Hunter, Alex Chilton, Dwight Twilley, Tom Petty and other ‘real’ influences.
Tim Lee’s latest is another dead-on hit, a gem, and a breath of fresh air, thanks in no small part to cohorts Susan Bauer Lee, who shares some song-writing credit, Greg Horne on guitar and Don Coffey, Jr., on drums. Coffey also produced the new CD. Lee’s contributions are guitar, vocals, songwriting, keyboards and co-producing.
Buy it.
Now.
Infectious. Mesmerizing. Passionate.
Basically put, Tim Lee is one kick-ass rock ‘n roller.
There is more to Tim Lee than simply being one of the sport’s better and more progressive editors. He has history. Lee, as probably everyone reading this knows, is the editor of DIRT LATE MODEL Magazine. One of the top writers in the sport, Lee has also been in pivotal positions with BEHIND THE WHEEL and NATIONAL DIRT DIGEST right along with his gifted wife and partner (and bass player), Susan.
Tim has toured the U.S. extensively with his own bands and as a sideman for Let's Active, Marti Jones, John Stirratt's Gimmecaps and the Swimming Pool Q's. He has provided production assistance to recordings by Will & The Bushmen, The Reivers, The Skeeters, The Primitons, Carnival Season and Absolute Grey.
Following six Windbreakers LPs and EPs, Tim's first solo album, "What Time Will Tell," was released in 1988 to unanimous critical praise. "What Time Will Tell" was produced by Gene Holder (dB's, Wygals) and featured members of the Bongos, the dBs, Chris Stamey Group, the Wygals and Let's Active. Jon Young's review of the record in Music/Sound Output called it: "... a stunning album, the kind of unexpected triumph that restores your faith in the power of art."
In early 1989, Lee again went into the studio with Holder to record "The New Thrill Parade." Longtime pal and dB's/Steve Earle drummer, Will Rigby joined in as well. This recording was eventually released in 1992 on New Rose records in France. Following the demise of Coyote Records, Tim regrouped with Bobby Sutliff in 1989 and '90 to record again as The Windbreakers. The result was 1989's charming and powerful, "At Home With Bobby & Tim" and the even better "Electric Landlady" in 1990.
Another Tim Lee solo album came out in 1992 on DB records. "Crawdad" found Tim teamed up with producer/guitarist Rob Gal (Coolies, Ottoman Empire). One reviewer said "if Leonard Cohen had grown up in the south ... he would've made an album like Crawdad." In 1997, the Fundamental label released a double CD retrospective of Tim entitled "All That Stuff" which featured selections from across his career, including unreleased tracks and new songs recorded with Neilson Hubbard and members of Blue Mountain and Wilco.
Following a break from the music business, Tim Lee came back with a new record and a new band. Starting in 2001, Lee brought on board wife Susan on bass guitar and completed his first new solo record in a decade and has been playing dates - both with his own band and the Windbreakers - across the country. Recorded in his adopted home of Knoxville, Tennessee, with members of The French Broads. UNDER THE HOUSE was released by the Paisley Pop label in 2002. Since returning to music in 2001, Lee has also contributed guitar work, both live and in the studio, for artists such as Leslie Woods, Neilson Hubbard, Bobby Sutliff, Amy Rigby and Todd Steed.
UNDER THE HOUSE is, especially if you’re a baby boomer or fan of TRUE rock and roll from the mid-60’s-very early 80’s, was one of the best damn new album/cd’s that I’d heard in years. I kid you not! And the same kind of infectious rock ‘n roll can be found on Lee’s next release NO DISCRETION in 2004 and then this year CONCRETE DOG on the Fundamental label.
Tim’s guitar work often, while totally original in style and presentation, often harkens back to prime Roger McGuin and Mick Ronson. The electric grabs you in and the acoustic allures you. If you’re into the Byrds, Dylan, Neil Young, Ian Hunter, Artful Dodger, Talking Heads, Beatles (circa ’67-69), Fogerty, Petty, et al, Tim Lee’s music is for you.
Tim Lee also has his own website at: www.timleemusic.com
Prepared by Lehman Motorsports Services
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