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A Pocketful of Soul Courier Journal, Louisville, KY Aug 26, 2000 Jason Rlngenberg is known for leaving a trail of torched clubs in the wake of his band, Jason and the Scorchers. While the Scorchers have known and appreciated country music, the band's twang thang is usually buried under layers of rock 'n' roll swagger and guitars loud enough to detonate eardrums. On "A Pocketful of Soul," Ringenberg steps out on his own with a front-porch backyard record that leans heavily on old-school country traditions. Acoustic guitars, banjos, fiddles, pedal steel and mandolins fill the album, which is dominated by Ringenberg's homely, heartfelt drawl and spare, effective songwriting. The first listen is a tough one, as the contrast between this album and the Scorchers' music is monumental, but the music's simple pleasures quickly take over. Ringenberg writes a nice country song, with strong elements of Guthrie style folk. His lyrics are clear and direct, with occational flashes of poetry. His band, George Bradfute and Fats Kaplin, accomplish the same with the music. But what makes the album work so well is Ringenberg's voice, which keeps nary a secret. Every emotion is delivered plainly, honestly, as if passed between friends at the kitchen table. -When he sings, you believe him, and with music that's at least half the battle. Jeffery Lee Puckett