Pat Todd & Rankoutsiders - I'll Dream Alone [LP]

Pat Todd & the Rankoutsiders, born from the ashes of the legendary Lazy Cowgirls and led by a frontman whose name has stood for the raw heart of American underground music for decades, return with their ninth album, I'll Dream Alone. Across twelve tracks of loud guitars, road-worn storytelling, and the same fusion of snarling '70s punk, country, blues, and classic rock that has defined the band since the Lazy Cowgirls days, the Rankoutsiders once again deliver a masterclass in authentic American rock 'n' roll. Recorded and engineered by Gavin Ross at Steady Studios in Burbank, California, I'll Dream Alone was crafted in the same room that produced the band's previous two albums. Pat Todd wrote or co-wrote the songs much as the Rankoutsiders always have: some were road-tested onstage for years before finally being recorded, including ""Ambition Street,"" while others were built from scratch in the studio, with lyrics arriving last, such as ""We're Outta Time,"" ""The World It Don't Need You,"" and the title track itself. The album spans a wide range of influences, from the Velvet Underground Loaded-style ballad ""Mediocre Heart"" to the uptempo soul beat of ""Beyond the County Line"" and the '60s AM radio-inspired ""The Last of Me."" Guitarist Nick Alexander takes a rare turn on lead vocals for ""It Ain't All My Fault,"" a song based on a true story, backed by Stephen Vigh, Kevin Keller, and Pat Todd.