Rusty Truck

When it came time to record his first album, former Rolling Stone chief photographer Mark Seliger was savvy with his connections. He obviously befriended the right people along the way and his band, Rusty Truck, reaped the benefits. Broken Promises is the fruit of five years' work, a countrified, blues-tinged, no-nonsense rock & roll blend that's real in heart and soul. Rusty Truck gives Seliger the chance to prove himself on another level and it's a pleasant surprise. Having guest spots from the likes of Jakob Dylan, Lenny Kravitz, Sheryl Crow, and Willie Nelson doesn't hurt, but Seliger and co. make it known that this is more than an all-star bash. Broken Promises is a rare occasion, an emotive set of songs that explore genre-blending boundaries that gives back to the basics of rock & roll. From the easy-listening title track duet with Kravitz to the high lonesome gems with Gillian Welch and David Rawlings ("Cival Wars/Luck's Changing Lanes," "Tangled in the Fence"), the band's stripped compositions clue a listener in to Seliger's main intention of telling a story. Broken Promises doesn't do anything new as far as molding country and rock, but it's an honest effort and it's solid. Who knew Seliger was a real artist behind the lens? ~ MacKenzie Wilson, All Music Guide