Brian Capps - Walk Through Walls (2005/2020)

Walk Through Walls, the debut solo album from ex-Domino Kings singer Brian Capps, is a low-key country delight. Sounding a bit (actually a lot) like vintage Rodney Crowell crossed with the ghost of Johnny Cash, Capps adds just enough rockabilly-like touches to these tracks to keep them gently swinging, and on songs like the two originals that open the album, "The Bottom" and "Next Time," he reaches a place where country, early rock & roll, and pure pop all seem to merge with one easy seam. He covers Crowell here, turning in a solid version of "Standing On a Rock," and Capps' acknowledged fondness for Johnny Cash also shows through on two Merle Travis songs, "The Devil to Pay" and "Dark As a Dungeon," both of which were recorded by Cash. "Dungeon," in particular, is striking, riding its slow, sprung rhythm perfectly. The connection with Cash goes beyond these two songs, though. Capps' phrasing owes a lot to the Man in Black, and while his Crowell-like tenor doesn't have the sonorous timbre of Cash's distinctive rumble, he paces his lines as if the Tennessee Two were chugging along behind him. This isn't a bad thing at all, since it gives Walk Through Walls an easy, likable flow, and the whole album sounds relaxed and familiar. This is smart, informed country music, and it doesn't depend on flashy tricks or forced lyric twists to give it a pop appeal. The album is a bit short, though, coming in at just under 35 minutes, and most listeners will find themselves wishing Capps and company had stuck around a bit longer.