It’s never easy being a hat act, especially considering the temperamental mood swings of Nashville’s impersonal machinery. Just ask Steve Grisaffe formerly of the nationally known, Lafayette-based River Road whose auspicious debut disc sold over 100,000 units and charted three singles. A second album was in the can but after being sold from Capitol to Virgin and back again to Capitol waiting for the industry geniuses to get it together proved to be too much for the guys who amicably parted ways last year.
The good news is that Grisaffe is back on his own road, armed with a batch of strong songs that should make believers out of country and non-country fans alike. Though many of the Music Row-penned tunes retain today’s new country feel, Grisaffe manages to make ’em all his own. And with sincere, conviction-filled vocal performances, there are treasures in this trove to behold like the plunging-into-love euphoria of “One Look” and the poignant matrimony proposal of “I Can See You Lovin’ Me” that makes for perfect wedding day fodder.
While one foot is aimed towards Nashberg, Grisaffe’s other foot is firmly entrenched in the bayous, which suggests he isn’t about to sacrifice any musical identity. “If It’s Really Got To Be This Way” comes off as soul stirring swamp pop; “Take It From The Top” also bounces the swamp pop way much like a Don Rich number. Grisaffe mixes it up again with the disc’s only previously recorded tune, the 1963 rock ‘n’ roller “Ruby Baby” that was one of the mega-hits penned by the Brill Building songwriting team of Leiber and Stroller. Strong tunes solidly rendered, right about now Grisaffe’s current status is looking mighty good indeed.