Review: Stevie Tombstone - Devil's Game
Stevie Tombstone grew up in the New Hope, Georgia, but he was not your typical Deep South church kid. In fact, his earrings and hair were different from the other musicians in the church he attended. And, basically, he only played guitar in the church band to meet girls. Nevertheless, those church days paid off, and his early country and gospel influences shine through in the album "Devil's Game."This album is a collection/compilation of Stevie Tombstone's well received "Acoustica" and "Second Hand Sin" projects. These albums received significant airplay on US, European and Australian radio.
Stevie Tombstone's style is hard to definitively describe. In some instances, his sound is vintage Mellencamp or Springsteen while other tracks have a country gospel and Texas country sound. The term Americana is probably the best way to describe Tombstone's slightly scratchy and highly emotive vocal style, and this artist truly sings with passion.
The crowning achievement of the album is the Texas-country style track, "Sympathy." Likewise, the live cut of "Til The Day I Die" probably best encapsulates Stevie Tombstone as a performer. His raw vocals never falter, and he sings with the perfect amount of forcefulness mixed with the vulnerability of a man sharing his most intimate feelings with the woman he loves. This is followed by a Dylanesque live version of "I Didn't Mean To Hurt You."
On "Devil's Game," Stevie Tombstone offers 17 tracks of thought-provoking music with rich layers and textures that channel everything from Jerry Jeff Walker to the Ramones. This collection is a vivid illustration of the varied musical heritage of America that can be enjoyed and appreciated by music lovers of virtually any genre of popular American music. In other words, it rocks. CountryChart.com