Nashville, TN. (Top40 Charts/ Slant Records) - Sixth-generation Texan Zane Lewis laughed out loud at the use of "eponymous," and asked, "wouldn't it just be easier to say 'self-titled?" Lewis, as you'll discover, isn't much for fancy talk (or idle chatter); the long, tall, guitar-slinging singer/songwriter is much more interested in making music, and he gets straight down to the nitty-gritty on his first nationally-released CD, ZANE LEWIS, due out March 11.
From the opening notes of the disc's first track, "Welcome To The Southland" (B. Terry/B. Crister), you know that this is a singer blessed with a big dose of Skynyrd - and a heap of George Jones - deep in his soul. A hell-raising "Yeah" and ringing electric guitars kick off the track - and drummer Tommy Harden (Big & Rich; Jack Ingram; Taylor Swift) earned double-scale on this one. It's a high-amped, in-your-face, tour-de-force party song - but Southern to the core, saluting everything from football to fishin'; from beer to homegrown greens. Zane's vocal style is distinctive, rich and edgy; there may be more rock than country in his voice on this cut, but the man can sing. On the album's first single, "Come With Me," written by Nashville hit men Brandon Hart and Mark D. Sanders, Zane powers things down and "channels" Elvis Presley's sexy snarl. He handles the rangy, love-in-the-making lyric with an easy confidence that's as appealing as his bad boy good looks - and every bit as believable as the more rockin' tracks.
Kudos to producers Lex Lipsitz (Shooter Jennings, Jessi Colter, Wade Bowen), and singer/songwriter Brett James for capturing the energy and spirit of Zane Lewis, and for bringing out the best in the extraordinary songs that Zane personally selected or co-wrote for this project. Session leader and rhythm guitarist Curt Ryle (Steve Holy; Taylor Swift; Carolyn Dawn Johnson) also deserves a nod for assembling an A-list group of players with some heavy creds. Album highlights abound and include the sweeping ballad, "Leavin'" written by Brandon Hart, Liz Hengberger and Tommy Lee James. Tasty fiddle work by Joe Spivey (Kenny Chesney; Faith Hill; Trick Pony) and masterful steel guitar and dobro by Scotty Sanders (Brooks & Dunn; Trisha Yearwood; Trace Adkins) are the perfect complement to Zane's vocal performance. "This'll Be A Memory," with its visually-stirring lyric, and Gary Smith's signature keyboard work (Dolly Parton; Tim McGraw; Randy Travis), is a mid-tempo with an unforgettable chorus and a lyric that tells the story of a man taking note of the "little" things that fill our hearts long after love has gone. Lewis co-wrote "Fly" with Jamie Richards, and it's a sweeping testament to the freedom found in following your dreams. "I believe living with a free-spirit is the essence of life," Zane says. "But those of us who live for the day are often misunderstood. We're all just experiencing what life brings, and loving the moment ... we've learned to fly."
Zane's been flying high on the Texas honky-tonk circuit with "Bad Ass Country Band," a song he co-wrote with Greg Crowe and Lex Lipsitz. Charged with the turbo lead guitar of Troy Lancaster (Brooks and Dunn; Sara Evans; Jack Ingram), the track tells the Zane Lewis story - and kicks some serious a** in the process. "Rocking out live is what drives me," he says. "Getting the crowd jacked up is why I make music. I set out to write a fuel-injected anthem that embodies our stage spectacle. And now I'm pimpin' the country one show at a time!"
ZANE LEWIS is a Slant Records release, due in stores March 11. It's a fine follow up to Zane's previous CD, the Texas-only issue, THIS TOWN, which generated three Texas Music chart hits ("This Town," "Beer Drinkin' Women," "I Hate To See Her Go").
