Rainmaker
Jeffrey Halford & The Healers
Label: Shoeless Records
Review Date: July 27, 2014

If one were to look up the definition of “Americana” in the dictionary, one just might find a picture of Jeffrey Halford as the definition . . . and if it’s not there, it should be.

That definition would definitely be solidified with the release of Jeffrey Halford & the Healer’s seventh CD, “Rainmaker”. The disc is the follow-up to “Broken Chord” that was released in 2008 and, with sounds that bring to mind Guthrie, Dylan, Springsteen and Petty, it could arguably be his best album yet.

“Rainmaker” catches the heart, soul, spirit and vibe of American music in all of its diversity and historical relevance. Whether sounding like he’s signing on the gapped, wood floors of an old blues joint or in a honky tonk, Halford accurately portrays America as it was, as it is and as it should be.

Each and every one of the eleven tracks on this album are goodies.  However, the three randomly chosen Boomerocity favorites are:

Thunderbird Motel: This tune portrays a since of loneliness one feels when a deep felt love is long gone. One can almost envision the song with grainy, black and white images.  I love, love, love the Dobro work on this tune!

Second Chance: This song is so bluesy, I honestly felt that I was at the wind swept crossroad and found myself wanting to spit the grit out of my mouth. 

Joaquin: Soft, delicate and haunting, one gets the sense that Halford is singing his feelings of “but by the grace of God there go I”. 

I highly recommend picking up your copy of “Rainmaker”. When you do, you’ll likely want to pick up Halford’s other six CD’s.