03/08/07

Growing up in North Carolina, it's not surprising that Jac Dalton grew up immersed in a mix of jukin' country, Dixie blues and maverick boogie squeezed out through soaring guitar lines. But being a self confessed "military brat" ( whose family followed his father from army base to army base) and a sense of adventure which saw him travel around the world on a cruise ship, there were more textures to his music. His debut album "From Both Sides" equally has touches of early '70s British rock like Free and Led Zeppelin, and West Coast/ East Coast troubadours like Jimmy Webb and Jackson Browne.

What is also endearing is that his lyrics are "every day folk". They range from lauding special people who make you feel special ("I Want Love"), to oppressive domestic situations ("Good Bad Girl"), to catching up with the belle of the ball at high school reunions ("The Boy's In Love") to down home boy entering a sleazy new city like Las Vegas for the first time ("Down And Dirty)" to romantic notions of the Wild West ("Wanted Dead Or Alive"). These are blue collar working class stories which are easy to identify with.

There's something refreshing about Jac Dalton's music. No wonder when he moved to Adelaide eight years ago, some of Australia's best musicians -- including past and present members of Rose Tattoo, the Angels, AC/DC and the Robert Plant Band -- took him under their wing and worked on his music.
We need more music like this coming from these shores.

-- CHRISTIE ELIEZER, Australasian bureau chief, Billboard Magazine

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