Empire Buliders

Country Music People
November 2004
Touring Europe and Australia in 2002 and 2003, and being a somewhat conspicuous target in his cowboy hat and western wear, Jason Ringenberg says he found himself constantly berated over American foreign policy. This is his response. Some of the songs, in particular the closely linked opening and closing tracks, openly ask hard questions of his homeland: "Yes, we can bomb almost any land ... It's time to bring that bull to heel".

Others, which wouldn’t be in context, here play a part in showing “my European cousins" that "America can still create and export dignity and progressive thought. Don't give up on your progeny!"
The extent to which Ringenberg feels (or was made to feel) the weight of his nation's sins is clear in ‘Rebel Flag In Germany’ which describes his shame at spying a Confederate flag from a German train: "I say I'am Canadian with averted eyes ... Hell, I don't even want to see that flag in Tennessee."

Other political statements include the sarcastic ‘New-Fashioned Imperialist’, which is notable for mixing Tex-Mex accordion with an oompah band in a way that reminded me of Kinky Friedman and a cover of Merle Haggard's ‘Rainbow Stew’.

Far and away the best song here is ‘Tuskegee Pride’, which makes effective use of the first person to tell the story of a black American war vet recalling his days as a fighter pilot in World War II. Here is a reminder of America's role in defeating fascism, plus comments on racism, multiculturalism and good old fashioned blue collar American values wrapped up in a human interest story so compelling that you scarcely notice it's a political song at all.

Also pleasing is ‘Half The Man’ a simple, rural tribute to Ringenberg's father, the gist being if I could be half the man you are… I’d rest contentedly.”

Elsewhere Ringenberg pays tribute to rock'n'roll axe man Link Wray on a track that has
little to do with the rest of the album but which provides a welcome reminder of Ringenberg's noisier days with The Scorchers. The track features some stirring, electric guitar by Eddie Angel and an effective retro girl chorus towards the end.

On the whole, this is an acoustic album with a folky feel. There is a rough hewn, live feel to a lot of the arrangements which fits with a certain lack of polish in some of Ringenberg's lyrics and, certainly, his vocals. In that respect, Empire Builders won't be for everyone. It is, however, by far the most interesting work he has done since The Scorchers.

Douglas McPherson