Nashville, TN. (Top40 Charts/ Diamond
Music Group/ Spinville Records) - SAWDUST, the much-anticipated second CD from real-life, cattle-ranching cowboy Todd Fritsch, is set for an April 17 release. Distributed nationally by Select-O-Hits, the 17-song Diamond
Music Group/Spinville Records' collection gives the listener an up-close look at America's new breed of "singing cowboy." Traversing the well-traveled trails of love, loss and redemption, SAWDUST is nonetheless rich with depth, diversity, and style. The disc includes seven Fritsch co-writes, and shows throughout that he has grown not only as a songwriter but as an artist as well.
There is more power in his rich tenor; the songs are a little "riskier" than on his debut, while staying "true-to-form" and immediately identifiable. "We call it 'All Fritsched Up', says Todd's friend (and well-known songwriter) Joe Bob Barnhill. "It's amazing how much of his personality shows through in his music. Todd throws himself into it just like he does everything in life - 110% - and the effort shows. Todd just laughs, and tells me 'that's the cowboy way.'"
Every cowboy knows the two-step, and Fritsch dances out of his traditional country box with the disc's first single, Andre Boudreau's "What's Wrong With Me." An infectious groove-oriented track, it's already jumping up the country charts, buoyed by its offbeat lyric, steel guitar riffs and the undeniable energy of Fritsch's performance. On "The Rock" (Scherz/Batson/Shepherd),Todd shows the vocal maturity that was glimpsed on his previous releases; there is mastery in every note, magic in every breath and poetry in every line. It is a perfect match of singer and song.
Fritsch follows the powerful drama of "The Rock" with the traditional country and lighthearted "No Part Of," written by Billy Yates and Will Nance. A distinctly Cajun feel prevails, and Todd makes the most of this comical look at love. Another standout track is "If You Don't Like Country (Time To Leave), a song written by Fritsch and producer Doug Deforest, that kicks a** live - and translates well on vinyl, too. "I threw the line out one night on stage," says Todd. "I wanted everyone to know that if they didn't like their music country, that they might as well leave right then. I think most of 'em stayed," he adds with a grin.
From the old swing style of "All That's Left Is You" to the contemporary country sound of "So This Is Love," Fritsch's pen has yielded some top-drawer songs. The heartfelt "Life's A Circle" began with the death of a family member and was finished with the help of the talented Doug Deforest, while the poignant "A Walk To Remember" was written with Deforest, Rick Stancil and the late Randy Sarver. The previously-released duet with Texas icon Gary P. Nunn, "Every Honky Tonkin' Hero (Has His Day)" is included as promised, as is a re-cut of the popular "First Date For The Last Time" (Fritsch/Sarver/Deforest).
Fritsch knows his way around a song - and a campfire, and he closes SAWDUST with the cowboy classic, "Little Joe The Wrangler." It's the perfect ending for a near-perfect album. And that's just how it should be: cowboy through and through - just like Todd Fritsch.
For all TF news and information, including hi-res downloadable photos, log on to www.toddfritsch.com or visit Todd's MySpace page at www.myspace.com/toddfritsch
