With Something Simple, Brother Trucker's third studio offering for Trailer Records, the Des Moines-based quartet continues to explore singer/songwriter Andy Fleming's enviable gift for crystallizing the plights of the underpaid, the under-loved, the unemployed and the disconnected, elevating those tales into the realm of near-mythic parables. It isn't slumming and it sure as hell ain't pandering; it's all done at eye-level and imbued with dignity and respect. And whether couched in manic, hip-shakin' rockers or elegantly shimmering country-laced ballads, the heartfelt lyrics merge with the music in a natural, copacetic synergy that delivers the message at hand with vivid, cinematic scope. For way too many folks, it's a freakin' jungle out there, and that jungle is exactly where this band chops and stacks its wood. Fleming's intimate vocals and rhythm guitar are fueled and torched by lead guitarist Mike Fitzpatrick and provide a fat, swinging bottom by the muscular rhythm section of drummer John Conlan and bassist Lyle Kevin Hogue. Following the recording of Something Simple, Conlan took a sabbatical to feed the home fires, and his slot has since been filled by ace tub-thumper Matt Winegardner. Individually and collectively, the group continues to expand and hone its musical chops, and they can tear it up big time as the need arises, while still providing enough space for Fleming's staggering tales to live and breathe. As with the preceding Regulars and 2000's debut, Brother Trucker, Something Simple was produced with stunning immediacy by Trailer Records' head David Zollo. Again serving as a "fifth Brother," Zollo delivers swirling organ fills, impossibly gorgeous piano lace-work, assorted percussion, wrote one song ("15 Dollars") and ghosts Fleming's lead vocal on the aching "St. Jude." "Dave's as generous as he is talented," Fleming said. "He believed in the band, he took us under his wing, and he's worked some serious magic. It sounds corny as hell, but it's truehe's been like a big brother to us." Singer/songwriter, goddess and label-mate BeJae Fleming (no relation) provides a guest vocal on "For J," and legendary roots-rocker Bo Ramsey (Greg Brown, Lucinda Williams, Pieta Brown, Kevin Gordon, etc.) unleashes some guitar wizardry on "Burnin'" and "Jimmy." At the heart of it all, though, is this incredible collection of songs. Allow these babies to wash over you just a few times, and they'll NEVER let you go. Something Simple emphatically underscores that old axiom, 'Simple pleasures are the best.' Believe it. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.