Last heard from four years ago via his inspirational military themed album “Flags Of Our Fathers,” Keni Thomas and his band, Cornbread, have been touring the USA and world sharing those songs and, eventually the songs which make up the new album “Gunslinger.” While “Flags” was completely about the military and some of the proceeds supported the Hero Fund and the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, “Gunslinger” feels more like a true debut album (Keni does donate proceeds again here as he is now a national spokesman for both).
The album starts off with “Shreveport 2 LA.” A country-rocker written by Billy Montana and Mike Plume, the song features an arrangement that’s more up tempo than most of “Flags…” was and Keni really sounds quite natural singing the song, which features one of the more memorable choruses that I’ve heard in quite a while. “Not Ready 4 Love” starts off as an atmospheric mid-tempo ballad and by the time we get to the chorus Keni earnestly sings the hook of “Just Not Ready For Love.” The melody of the song sounds a lot like something that Sugarland would do. Thomas’ first song to feature his name is the ballad “Everything” (not to be confused with Jessica Andrews’ single of the same name). A power ballad (co-written with Brian Dean Maher) that reminds me of something you might hear on a Chicago record from the 80’s, “Everything” is the kind of song that Thomas excels at.
“Out of Nowhere,” co-written by Sugarland’s original member Kristen Hall and Clay Cumbrie, finds Thomas once again singing a song with some tempo to it, something he also does on the rollickin’ title-track and “Summertown,” both of which were self-penned by Thomas. The latter has a melody that recalls the best parts about the Eagles. Whenever Keni gets heartfelt the songs are usually always for the best and “That One Is My Dad” is one such song. It’s a song that anyone can relate to as children are proud of their fathers, heroes or not. I’ve never quite heard Bruce Robison’s “Blame It On Me” quite the way Keni does the song here (less acoustic, more U2ish) but a great song is still a great song, no matter how it is arranged.
Keni Thomas may not be with a major label but the songs on “Gunslinger” find the Tenacity Records artist making music that suits him and his band as they tour the country and military bases playing for the masses. “Gunslinger” is at various times, heartfelt, honest and, mostly, fun.
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