When I do an album review, I typically talk give my overall impression of the album and I typically pick out a couple standout tracks to discuss in more detail. There are some albums where that type of review doesn’t seem to do justice to the full album. This is one those times.
Gethen Jenkins is an outlaw country artist and his debut album “Western Gold” was released today. I don’t believe that there is such a thing as a perfect album, but this one comes pretty close. Jenkins has performed more than a thousand shows in his career and it comes through on this record. It sounds like the work of a seasoned musician who is having fun making music. That’s something you just can’t fake.
The songwriting on the album is first-rate and the musicianship is very good as well. The album has a live music feel and it’s very hard to capture the rawness and emotion of a live show on CD. I would encourage anyone to listen to the words of these songs. The beauty of the lyrics is one of the things that make this album better than average.
His 2017 EP received Album of the Year honors at the California Country Awards and it was one of the top-selling outlaw country albums on iTunes. I would expect that “Western Gold” will either match or exceed the work of his previous EP.
Below, I have given brief thoughts on each of the album’s 11 tracks.
Bottle In My Hand – This song is a great way to kick off the album. It is an up-tempo drinking song and it’s lot of fun. If this song is the listener’s introduction to Jenkins’ music, it showcases his vocal ability and the fantastic musicianship of the band. Whether you are a first-time listener or already a fan, this track is sure to leave you wanting more.
Heartache Time – Sure, this is a heartbreak song, but it’s the way a heartbreak song should be done. It’s not slow and it’s danceable, but it has some pretty poignant lyrics. It takes a talented songwriter to be able to be able to combine those elements and make it work so well.
Whiskey Bound – This is a drinking song, but it has a completely different feel than “Bottle In My Hand” did. The powerful lyrics and the power of Jenkins vocal performance that really makes this song work. This song will especially resonate with those who are drinking to numb the pain.
Maintenance Man – This is a fun song with a catchy hook: She’s a high maintenance woman and I’m her maintenance man. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall while this song was being written. There are so many cleaver lines in this song that it had to have been a blast to write.
Restless Ways – A common theme in outlaw country/ honky tonk albums is being torn between settling down and answering the call of the restless wind. For some, the road never stops calling them. There is a level a honesty in these lyrics that set it apart from other songs.
Waiting – This is one of the slowest songs on the album and it’s definitely one of my favorite tracks. I think the appeal of the song is the vulnerability of the song’s narrator.
Western Gold – This is the title track of the album It’s another song with a narrator who answers the call of the road. One thing I really like about Jenkins’ style is his storytelling. He can address the same idea or theme in more than one song, but they don’t sound similar at all. It would have been very easy for this song (and many of the others on the album) to be slow and even depressing. He finds a way to tell these stories and address these themes in a more upbeat way.
Strength of a Woman –This is a slower story song. It is another example of a strong story song. It celebrates the strength of women to love men who are not particularly easy to love. I think this is a song that will be relatable for both men and women.
Basket Case – This is the first single from the album. I can definitely understand why it was selected as the first single. It is a fun song with a driving guitar sound. While it is a good song, it is not my favorite song on the album.
While I’m Away – This is a song that will be relevant to soldiers who are deployed or people who have to travel for work. The song examines that thoughts of the song’s narrator as he wonders what his love interest will do while they apart and whether or not she will be faithful during that time.
Me My Bottle And Nothing But Time – This is not a party song at all. It is still a well-written up-tempo song. It makes for a good last song to a very good album.