HOPKINS,RICH/SEDLMAYR,BILLY - The Fifty Percenter (Sealed) (CD)

The prolific Rich Hopkins (of Luminarios, Sidewinders & Sand Rubies fame) teams up with once-lost legend Billy Sedlmayr from the early '70s & '80s outfit Giant Sandworms (later Giant Sand) to produce this rich Americana album. They are backed by other Luminarios & a cast of well-known sidemen, including slide phenom Stefan George. Billy's vocals dominate & saturate the tracks, the tone eerily reminiscent of his personal journeys. Hopkins' Byrds-like guitar playing & occasional vocals wrap around the material for the perfect new-style Americana/rock approach.