The first official CD from the Clay Colton Band. It's 11 tracks of delicious Clay Colton goodness for you in an album we dubbed "Looking Back Ahead." The title is one of those personal things we put together that kind of sums up the last several years for all of us. The album contains new Clay Colton original songs, a couple of our favorite cover songs and remixed, remastered and pretty much revitalized songs that are Clay's favorite originals.  

Tracks:

1. Roses Don't Mean a Thing
   
   
   
2. Redneck Joe's Theme (If I Only Had A Brain)
   
   
   
3. Long Kiss Goodnight
   
   
   
4. Holly Holy
   
   
   
5. Daddy's Last Dance
   
   
   
6. All Along the Watchtower
   
   
   
7. All the Same
   
   
   
8. Midnight Haze
   
   
   
9. Wasted
   
   
   
10. Little Feet
    
    
    
11. Stand Alone/Daddy's Last Dance Reprise
    
    

You can hear clips and purchase the CD online electronically at iTunes or buy a disc at CDbaby.com.

Vista's Clay Colton Band specializes in power ballads with a country-tinged rock approach. The band's new album, "Looking Back Ahead," ranges from the anthemic "Roses Don't Mean a Thing" and "Little Feet" to the tender and sentimental "Daddy's Last Dance."

But the band also has the chops – and self-confidence – to knock out a spot-on cover of Neil Diamond's "Holly Holy" and take on an energetic reading of Dylan's much-covered "All Along the Watchtower."

Lead singer Colton wrote or co-wrote all the other songs here, and they are solid, melodic tunes that lend themselves well to his rich voice. The lyrics tell personal stories of modern living, from being a non-custodial parent to the natural, normal heartache of watching your kids grow up and leave the nest.

The four-piece band has a nice, relaxed groove to it, creating a solid foundation for Colton's vocals to soar above.

- Review by Jim Trageser, North County Times.