Ted Russell Kamp - Poor Man’s Paradise (Independent) Ted Russell Kamp seems to have been around for ages. I can’t even remember the titles of the previous Kamp albums I’ve reviewed, but I do know that between then and now, he’s released several records, and has been filling in his spare time on bass duties with Shooter Jennings’ band, The 357s. His latest, Poor Man’s Paradise, is a gratifying mix of classic country rock and hard-nosed, West Coast singer-songwriter styles. The kind of thing that The Band and Poco pioneered forty years ago and which proves a stack of clichés like “nothing changes under the sun” and “no change for change’s sake”. But let’s be honest, if your chosen genre is honest-to-goodness country rock, the only thing you can do is do it well. This Kamp does, and apart from ticking all the boxes, Poor Man’s Paradise contains no shortage of good songs and tunes you’ll remember. The obligatory themes of heartbreak, betrayal and “the road” are all touched upon, and the band play like they’re the best of friends. Take it out for a drive, or settle down with it for a beer or two - I suspect it’ll be time well spent. www.tedrussellkamp.com Rob F. Next