Walter rose shines

Jan. 17 marked the release of Carmel, California-based country musician Walter Rose's first full-length album. Rose is not yet well-known in the music industry, but with the release of "Cast Your Stone," that is sure to change.

Rose has already been praised by the likes of "My Old Kentucky Blog," which says of the debut track, "Driving South," that "It is a beautifully subdued number with tiny cracks of honesty in every lyric sung."

In "Driving South," Rose country and western living legend Lucinda Williams accompanies Rose. Williams is known throughout the country world and the Austin community for her deeply personal and emotional performances. After listening to this collaboration, it would come as no surprise that this track is no exception. "It's not every day you open the door and see someone like Lucinda Williams on the other side," says Rose of his opportunity to work with Williams, whose hit album "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road" garnered a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album.

It's easy for radio to allow us to believe that such artists as Taylor Swift and Kelly Clarkson are considered "country musicians," but once upon a time we listened to Johnny Cash and Tammy Wynette. Rose takes us back to that time. Even those who are not fans of country music cannot help but be affected by Rose's raw and unabashed emotion.

Listening to "Driving South", you almost get the feel of being in a dark bar with a cigarette billowing in an ash tray and a glass of bourbon sitting next to the artist. Rose's gritty and hardened voice coupled with Williams' soulful and sultry tone is what true country music is all about.

Steel guitarist, Eric Heywood, former member of Son Volt and Alejandro Escovedo's band, won a Grammy with Ray LaMontagne in 2008 is also featured. Heywood's strings tend to drip with soul and tell a story all their own.

Other tracks worth mentioning on "Cast Your Stone" are "Better Days," which is an alternate, happy ending to Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car", and "Black Crow," a blues number that has you swaying your head and tapping your toes from the very first note.

Rose's album is available for immediate download from his Bandcamp website. No news of a possible tour is available as of yet, but one thing's for sure, the saddest country song could be written about missing his show when he comes.