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When a group of veteran pop rockers come together from various points on the rock 'n' roll map, two things can happen. Egos can collide and send the project down in flames, or a harmonious common ground can be discovered and soaring provocative music is the result.
The New Orleans based Continental Drifters are a grand example of the latter. A family of highly talented musicians, singers and songwriters, the Drifters have found a focused, emotionally charged common ground on their third album, "Better Day" (Razor & Tie ****). The band's sound has been described as everything from "neo-hippie" to "American roots rock," and while these phrases might be descriptive accurate, they don't begin to cover the rich fabric that goes into the Drifters' musical quilt.
Individual members (among them Peter Holsapple, Vicki Peterson and Susan Cowsill) contribute personal songs, but the collective whole turns the tunes into compelling orginals easily identified as the work of the Continental Drifters. Holsapple's "Live on Love" is a mimmering serving of Memphis soul stew; Peterson's "Long Journey Home" finds a propulsive, pop-rock groove and Cowsill's "Someday" would blow most modern rock songs off the radio in a better world.
Maybe that's what "Better Day" is all about - the belief that there will be a time when smart, catchy music like this can swim in the mainstream along with everything else. - Michael Miller
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