Country under tight rein

Press, 24 March 1988, Page 30

Country under tight rein

i THE WARRATAHS “The Only Game; lln Town”: I (Pagan; PALIO32). 1 | I [ |;| Hot on the heels of successful crossover; . country artists such as Dwight Yoakam and( Randy Travis come the Warratahs, five j urban cowboys straight out of the Windy City. /Tie band, along with Auckland’s Al Hunter, hhye been attracting a wiper audience in New Zealand l for country music. ■ [; Ten tracks are on “The Only Game I In Town,” I including f iur covers that are hard to differentiate from :he originals, the stahdan is that good. This is not all that surprising, ! thou gh;| | as| two members of the j Warratahs, Wayne Ma ion .1/1- I 1/ ■ 7 | /HI!. i-;i!|||;

11 i:: J I r ind Barry Saunders, lave [long musical piedijrees[— to Rockinghprse and beyond. ;l[| | 11 The i subject matter might be typical country fare,,; 1 but the album shows why the Warratahs have such a following m Wellington, i The playing is tight and disciplined; even the covers have||no frills. “Walk!pn By” 'and “You’re Right, I’m Left, i I She’s Gone,” are handled traditionally, j As | indicated by / the covers, and the two tracks recorded} live at The Cricketers, Wellington, the Warratahs hark Back [to the ’4os and ’sos in country music, ibut'the effect is exceptional; just part lof Pagan’s | search for excellence. | ||i|l ,!l | i | -NEVIN TOPP. I I. | ! ! 1 Hll'j / (|. :|l|}| |i(i