Drew Emmitt
made a name for himself with
Leftover Salmon
, but as a solo artist, he has to carry the weight of an album himself, which isn't an easy task, as he discovers on
Freedom Ride
. He can play, sing, and write competently, but without a great deal of individuality -- it's a telling point that the most memorable song on the album is a cover of
Dylan
's
"Tangled Up in Blue,"
which makes the rest of the work seem very pale and anemic. It probably doesn't help that
Emmitt
tends to favor a bouncy tempo, which is fine for foot-tapping, but not so hot for introspection and memory. He gets some strong backup from
the John Cowan Band
, but the bottom line is that this record is, at best, an average thing. ~ Chris Nickson