Any Day Above Ground

Seemingly unsatisfied by the homogeneity of Hard Reyne, Reyne expands his musical boundaries with oddball collaborations with Jim Vallance (of Bryan Adams fame) and Tony Joe White (Louisiana swamp-rocker). The result is an invigorated Reyne, who seems to be having a great time winding his voice around gorgeous melodies and intense rants alike. The lyrics have a more subtle edge to them; while they actually seem lighter than those of Reyne's vitriolic debut, they actually reach much deeper below the surface: "Never make the effort and there's no welcome at the door/Desolation angel, watching, waiting" (from "Black And Blue World"). Despite its nutty had-to-be-changed-for-America title, Digger Dandy finds a more introspective experimental Reyne, one content to play the music at a lower level and let his words and stiletto voice speak for itself. Note: Reyne followed this album with another unusual collaboration, a cover of The Dingoes' "Way Out West" with country star James Blundell, the massive proceeds of which benefited the Australian National Farmer's Federation, desperate for relief from severe droughts.)