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Deep within these tracks lies the heart of the Live Music Capitol of the World – Austin, Texas. It beats to the rhythm of every genre of music while generously sharing its resources, and reminds us that heroes come from all walks of life. The breadth and depth of the musicians and bands within this recording span as many decades as it does genres and could fill a nightclub with the number of music awards they’ve won. It’s a stellar lineup of artists and compositions that quite literally spin around the clock, as the warmth of Oscar and five-time Grammy winner Christopher Cross and Grammy winner Eric Johnson’s “Austin Sunrise” opens the fourteen tracks within. This duet also marks a lengthy friendship for the two that dates back to their teens. The romantic lushness of “Dreamers” comes from equal parts sophisticated orchestral grace and Christopher Cross’s gentle, warm vocals. It’s the very combination that brought him to the attention of the world in 1980, and kept him a favorite since. Eric Johnson’s “Brilliant Room” soars and rocks, as befits the native Austinite whose virtuosity redefined the blues-tinted notion of Texas guitar. What makes “Brilliant Room” sparkle is Malford Milligan stepping up to the microphone and delivering shimmering vocals that shoot into the stratosphere as far as the ear can hear. Jimmie Vaughan and Lou Ann Barton have been dream-teaming for over a decade, his muscled guitar and her Fort Worth twang make “What Am I Living For” the showpiece it is. Their duets are sublime as befits Vaughan’s status as a master Texas bluesman. Van Wilks, Malford Milligan, and Marcia Ball’s “You Make Me Crazy” answer the question of what happens when king soul singer Milligan and long, tall Marcia Ball tickling the ivories do in a showdown with the mighty guitar of Van Wilks. Talk about a trifecta of Texas talent! When it comes to Texas singer-songwriters, Shake Russell’s name rises to the top of the list. On the memorable “Today's the Day,” he and Michael Hearne join with Monte Montgomery for triple threat performance. Montgomery – 7 time winner of SXSW’s “Best Acoustic Guitar Player” award, the only artist to ever do so – also brings his signature guitar mojo to “Six-String Wooden Friend.” No question the title is true for Monte Montgomery. Born and raised in Austin, Suzanna Choffel’s pop-soul sound blooms like a hothouse flower when paired with singer-songwriter Alejandro Escovedo in “Hello Goodbye.” Escovedo, no stranger to performing with orchestras or unusual collaborations, finds the pop neo-classical Mother Falcon perfect partners for the driving allure of “Sacramento and Polk.” Quiet Company didn’t just happen on the scene, they exploded in 2011 with “You, Me, and the Boatman” sweeping local awards. “Love Has Found Me Somehow” furthers highlights their melodic joyousness, keeping them front and center among Austin’s rising stars. The modern blues of Carolyn Wonderland and Guy Forsyth bring the gavel down on “Judgment Day Blues.” Wonderland has garnered equal praise for her soulful voice and guitar attack, while Guy Forsyth brings his trademark passion and promise. Brothers in blood and music, when Charlie and Will Sexton perform “Celebrate,” it’s an affirmation of love and kinship. Whether backing Bob Dylan, as Charlie does, or write with David Baerwald, as Will Sexton did, the two define brotherhood with a backbeat. Few bands alive carry the torch of Texas swing the way Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel do. Benson’s rich bass vocals on “Hang Up My Saddle and Spurs” ease the soul, reminding us to stop and smell the yellow roses of life along the way. And in the end, Ghostland Observatory’s “Midnight Voyage” sends the duo’s electronically charged sound on a sonic journey. It’s a potent reminder that to Thomas Turner and Aaron Behrens, Ghostland Observatory is an agreement between two friends to create something that not only heals their beat-driven hearts, but pleases their rock & roll souls. - Margaret Moser Austin Chronicle