Benjamin Folke Thomas and his band make a great sound. “And his band” is important, because “Rogue State of Mind” is not Thomas with some musicians but a true band album. And therein lies both its strength and its weakness. It’s assured and confident, with hooks, tunes, great playing (in particular from Henning Sernhede on guitars) and a fully realised classic Americana roots-rock style updated for the 21st century. But the songs, with one or two exceptions, are not quite as good as the sound.
“Woman I Love” is the standout, but even that has a clunky line or two. The brooding “Broke Down Train” and the epic closer “Little Too Late” are also good but “Futile Blues” is a little too close to Tom Russell for comfort. Elsewhere while every…
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…song has something to be said for it – the cinematic sweep of “Gettysburg” for instance – none of them really catch fire lyrically and truly stir the soul. This may seem a little harsh as Thomas undoubtedly has talent to burn but the quality control isn’t quite there on his writing. When it is the resulting album should be really something but for now while there are moments and a sound to savour here on what is undoubtedly an enjoyable album there are a few too many flaws to elevate it to greatness.
01. Break the Border (4:05)
02. Gettysburg (3:36)
03. Bulletproof (2:34)
04. Futile Blues (3:32)
05. Broke Down Train (4:20)
06. Pauper to a King (4:55)
07. Woman 1 Love (4:20)
08. Dream About You Baby (2:41)
09. Married (3:28)
10. Little Too Late (6:25)