Perhaps one of the acts least deserving of their "One-Hit Wonder" status, the Georgia Satellites are well known for their inescapable Southern rock anthem, "Keep Your Hands to Yourself," which blurred the lines between country, pop, and rock in the mid-80's, long before Shania Twain and her ilk made it fashionable to do so.

Dan Baird served as the nimble-voiced frontman of the Georgia Satellites, who persevered for several years after their single hit had run its course. The music they released during that period was certainly up to the level of that irresistably catchy single, which has been given renewed life on Napster. You can even find it by searching for "I got a little change in my pocket" as the song title, which is further indication that the internet is just chock-full of people with minimal appreciation of fringe musicians.

But I digress.

After the Georgia Satellites' eventual / inevitable breakup, Baird released his 1994 solo debut, the woefully undervalued Buffalo Nickel. The album is undervalued, of course, in the same sense as was the rest of the Georgia Satellites' work-- they (and Baird) were poised to pick up where Lynrd Skynrd and the Allman Brothers left off, and, artistically, they can be seen as a success. Buffalo Nickel, not so surprisingly, picks up exactly where Georgia Satellites left off; unfortunately, this means that Baird's solo debut actually picks up where his former band began. Adapting to change, alas, was not the Georgia Satellites' selling point.

That's the bad news. On the bright side, it also means that Buffalo Nickel is an album of solid, balls-to-the-wall Southern rock.

Baird's songwriting bears a wry southern charm, which keeps his lyrics both engaging and to-the-point. There's not a frivolous image or metaphor to be found on Buffalo Nickel, just straightforward lines like "Just keep it short and simple / I ain't that sentimental / I'll just be up and on my way." Really, there's no need to dress up a line like that, especially when it's sung with Baird's distinctive voice.

To characterize Dan Baird's voice is not an easy task, but I'd say that a blend of Tom Petty and John Hiatt probably covers most of his vocal territory sufficiently well.

While certainly distinctive, Baird avoids the affected singing style of his biggest hit-- there aren't any octave-leaping voice breaks as on the "Jing-a-ling-a-ling" opener of "Keep Your Hands to Yourself." Instead, we're treated to passionate deliveries by an underrated rock vocalist. John Mellencamp certainly doesn't sing material similar to this nearly so well.

Fans of Southern Rock will absolutely want to find this disc. Tracks like "On my Way" and "L'il Bit," while certainly not earning the classic status of "Ramblin' Man" or even "Keep Your Hands to Yourself," are actually every bit as catchy and thoughtfully created. Baird even makes a common retread like "Hush" sound like an original. This album contains some truly inspired guitar riffs. That Baird is an undervalued writer and singer are only added bonuses to how much fun-- and what genuine art-- this style of music can be.

If Dan Baird hasn't shown much artistic growth since the demise of the Georgia Satellites, maybe it's simply because he didn't see any reason to change a sound that's so effective at serving its purpose. Though largely regarded as a "novelty" act, Baird and the Georgia Satellites served as an ideal transition from Lynrd Skynrd and the Allman Brothers to such current acts as Son Volt, Southern Culture on the Skids, and Old 97's.

A Caveat: The 3-star rating comes from Baird's unique talents; I'd rate this album higher if only he had used those talents to create a bit more distance between Buffalo Nickel and his work with the Georgia Satellites. They were good, but Buffalo Nickel hints that Baird is bordering on true greatness.

For Fans Of: Creedence Clearwater Revival, Old 97's, Georgia Satellites, Allman Brothers, Fog Hat, Southern Culture on the Skids, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, etc.


Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Driving