Americana Has a Strong Voice in Rod Melancon

It has been said that one of the marks of a great artist is the ability to build on past works, rather that rebuild.  That is exactly what Rod Melancon has done with his latest EP, LA 14, recently released on indie label Blue Élan Records.

If you didn’t know that this EP had just been released, most listeners would think it was a contemporary of country greats like Merle Haggard or Johnny Cash.  Melancon’s songs have that timeless appeal of those greats and others.

Through the five songs on LA 14, Melancon reveals his Southern Louisiana roots through his lyrics and choice of music, a sound that is part blues, part country with just a touch of rock and roll – the perfect recipe for Americana music.

Thankfully, this EP is a preview of his forthcoming full length album which will be released later this year and produced by Brian Whelan, the former lead guitarist for Dwight Yoakum.

Of the five tracks, “The Lights of Carencro” is the most unique, with elements of rock usually found in the music of such artists as Led Zeppelin and Lynyrd Skynyrd.  The track stands out from the rest, which are more country than rock.

All of the songs tell amazing stories, and definitely leave the listener wanting to hear more from this gifted artist.  We highly recommend you check out Melancon and get on board before the world learns of his amazing talent.

For more information, check out his website and Facebook pages, follow him on Twitter, and subscribe to his YouTube channel.

This review was first published on Indie Voice Blog.