Nowhere Left to Run by Leatherbag

Following last fall's exceptional Love Me Like the Devil EP, the full-length debut from Leatherbag, aka Randy Reynolds, finds the road-weary local songsmith still riding shotgun to his influences. Opener "My Sister" drives hard into Blonde on Blonde-era Dylan, while the chorus of the title track retreads tires once spun by the Band. Shifting gears into full band mode allows Reynolds more versatility, but he gets better mileage with less power. The pining mandolin on "Cecilia" and banjo on "Be Not Afraid," both expertly employed by Joey Thompson, accentuate Reynolds' idling drawl through narratives that blend heartbreak and dreams into one endless highway. Likewise, the restraint of "Golden Embers" and "No More California" best highlight Reynolds' songwriting and steer Nowhere Left to Run toward Simon Joyner or Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska. There's no denying Leatherbag's talent and, with his own road finally staked, just how far he may run. ℗ 2006 Superpop